GAME DAY: Bertuzzi returns as Red Wings take on the Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET, BSDET)

The Detroit Red Wings have lost three games in a row. With @Tyler Bertuzzi back from a stint in COVID-19 protocol, they’ll look to avoid making it four on Tuesday when they take on the New York Islanders at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Bertuzzi has nine goals and 18 points in 20 games with the Red Wings this season. He was added to the Red Wings’ COVID-19 protocol list on Dec. 1; he told reporters after Monday’s practice he remains unvaccinated against the virus.

The Islanders currently rank last in the Metropolitan Division with a 7–11–5 record, having won just two of their last 10 games. Detroit’s 13–12–3 line places them just one point behind the Boston Bruins for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot, with Boston having played four fewer games.

Detroit most recently dropped a 7–3 decision on the road against the Colorado Avalanche, with former Red Wing @Darren Helm scoring for the Avs in the game. @Vladislav Namestnikov got Detroit on the board in the contest with the 100th goal of his National Hockey League career.

The Islanders are actually coming off a win in their most recent game, having defeated the New Jersey Devils 4–2 on Dec. 11. Former Devils @Andy Greene and @Zach Parise picked up their first goals of the season in the win for New York.

This will be Detroit’s second of three meetings with the Islanders this season. On Dec. 4, @Moritz Seider netted the overtime winner at Little Caesars Arena to help the Red Wings defeat the Isles by a 4–3 score.

Expect Detroit to use these combinations tonight:

@Tyler Bertuzzi – @Dylan Larkin – @Lucas Raymond
@Robby Fabbri – @Pius Suter – @Vladislav Namestnikov
@Filip Zadina – @Michael Rasmussen – @Adam Erne
@Givani Smith – @Joe Veleno – @Sam Gagner

@Jordan Oesterle – @Moritz Seider
@Nick Leddy – @Filip Hronek
Danny DeKeyser – @Daniel Renouf

With ample rest behind him, expect @Alex Nedeljkovic (8–6–3, .915 SV%) to start for the Red Wings tonight.

The Islanders went with these combinations on Dec. 11:

@Anders Lee – @Mathew Barzal – @Josh Bailey
@Kieffer Bellows – @Brock Nelson – @Kyle Palmieri
@Zach Parise – @Jean-Gabriel Pageau – @Oliver Wahlstrom
@Ross Johnston – @Casey Cizikas – @Cal Clutterbuck

@Adam Pelech – @Scott Mayfield
@Zdeno Chara – @Noah Dobson
@Robin Salo – @Andy Greene

@Ilya Sorokin (7–6–4, .925 SV%) will likely start for New York on Tuesday evening.

Detroit: @Lucas Raymond (10 goals, 24 points); @Dylan Larkin (10 goals, 22 points); @Moritz Seider (three goals, 19 points); @Tyler Bertuzzi (nine goals, 18 points); @Filip Hronek (three goals, 15 points).

New York: @Mathew Barzal (five goals, 17 points); @Oliver Wahlstrom (eight goals, 13 points); @Brock Nelson (nine goals, 11 points); @Josh Bailey (one goal, nine points); @Jean-Gabriel Pageau (four goals, nine points).

Detroit: We made @Robby Fabbri our player to watch for the Colorado game and mentioned his status as a pending unrestricted free agent. Well, surprise: Fabbri signed a three-year contract extension with the Red Wings on Monday, making him the lone Detroit player under contract through the 2024–25 season. Perhaps Fabbri will have a post-signing production bump? We could find out on Tuesday.

New York: It’s been a really tough start to the season for @Josh Bailey, who has just a single goal in his first 18 games. He’s still getting ample playing time on the Islanders’ top line, but that arrangement could be in jeopardy if he doesn’t start to produce. Bailey, 32, is a well-respected veteran on Long Island who remained productive last season, with 35 points in 54 games, and his typically high assist output has continued this year.

Tuesday’s Red Wings game will be broadcast on Bally Sports Detroit starting at 7:30 p.m. ET. It’ll be sent over the airwaves on WXVT-FM 97.1 “The Ticket” in the Detroit area, as well as on the Red Wings’ official website.

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