WGD: GAME 27: RED WINGS @ CANADIENS
By Brock Seguin
6 years agoOn Thursday the Montreal Canadiens came into Little Caesars Arena and beat up on the Red Wings despite playing the night before.
The loss extended the Red Wings losing streak to six games (0-3-3) and saw the Canadiens leapfrog Detroit to take third place in the Atlantic Division. Since Carey Price returned, the Canadiens have won four in a row to get back to .500 and will look to make it five straight as they kickoff a five-game home stand tonight.
As for the Red Wings, this is a brief one-game trip before they return to LCA for a five-game home stand of their own.
Detroit was unable to beat Price who was playing for the second night a row, so it’s going to be even more difficult against a rested Price on the road.
Let’s see how these two teams stack up:
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| RECORD | 10-11-5 (5th IN ATL) | 12-12-3 (3rd in ATL) |
| GOALS FOR | 2.73 GF/PG (25th) | 2.48 GF/PG (29TH) |
| GOALS AGAINST | 3.04 GA/PG (18TH) | 3.11 GA/PG (23rd) |
| POWER PLAY | 23.2% (7TH) | 17.0% (t-25TH) |
| PENALTY KILL | 82.6% (t-8TH) | 76.9% (27th) |
| CORSIFOR% | 49.60 CF% (18TH) | 51.82 CF% (8TH) |
THE RED WINGS
Detroit Red Wings lines via DailyFaceoff
Both Trevor Daley and Martin Frk were listed as game-time decisions for Thursday’s game, Daley returned that evening and Frk will be back tonight. Frk has missed the last eight games with a groin injury but will skate on the top line with Henrik Zetterberg and Gustav Nyquist tonight. Frk has recorded six goals and three assists (nine points) in 18 contests this season.
The player to watch tonight, like he is on most nights, is Anthony Mantha. The third-year forward is a Quebec native, who scored a goal with an assist on Thursday and has four goals and one assist in seven career games vs. the Canadiens.
THE CANADIENS
Montreal Canadiens lines via DailyFaceoff
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 MAX PACIORETTY |  PHILLIP DANAULT |  ANDREW SHAW |
 CHARLES HUDON |  TOMAS PLEKANEC |  BRENDAN GALLAGHER |
 ALEX GALCHENYUK |  JACOB DE LA ROSE |  PAUL BYRON |
 NICOLAS DESLAURIERS |  BYRON FROESE |  DANIEL CARR |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 JORDIE BENN |  SHEA WEBER |
 KARL ALZNER |  JEFF PETRY |
 VICTOR METE |  DAVID SCHLEMKO |
For the Canadiens, Shea Weber will likely return from a lower-body injury but is officially listed as a game-time decision. Jonathan Drouin skated this morning as well, but isn’t expected to play for the second straight game.
On Thursday, the Red Wings were beat up by the Habs third line, who has been doing that to a lot of people. Brendan Gallagher led the way with two goals and one assist, Charles Hudon added a goal and Tomas Plekanec had two helpers. You can’t overlook Max Pacioretty either. The veteran goal-scorer has had some tough luck this season, but his shooting percentage is bound to improve to some degree, but the Red Wings will do their best to make sure that doesn’t start tonight.
BETWEEN THE PIPES
Petr Mrazek vs. Price.
Mrazek was knocked out of his last start vs. New Jersey after allowing three goals on 24 shots. Jimmy Howard has started the majority of the games this season, but Mrazek has gone 2-3-0 with a 2.78 GAA and .913 SV% on the road. He will need to be on top of his game tonight if he’s going to out-duel Price at the other-end.
Price has posted a 1.25 GAA, .962 SV% and one shutout while winning four in a row since returning from injury. He struggled early in the season, but Price has settled back in as one of the best netminders in the world and the Red Wings will have to focus on getting bodies to the net tonight to make him as uncomfortable as possible.
HOW TO WATCH
Puck-drop is at 7:00 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. You can watch the game on Fox Sports Detroit in the United States or SportsNet in Canada.
Also, make sure to follow us on Twitter; we’ll have live tweets, GIFS, and all the fun stuff that a topical social media platform has.
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