WGD: Game 53: Red Wings @ Senators
After Danny DeKeyser won the game in overtime for the Red Wings against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night, the Wings are heading to Ottawa to face the Senators on Saturday night.
It might be the battle of the bottom of the Atlantic division, but it might be entertaining nevertheless. Two teams that have some high-powered offensive players at the top of their lineup, but nothing really after that. So at least for about 20 minutes tonight, the game will be entertaining.
Fans might get a surprisingly interesting game from the dead last and third-last team in the NHL.
Craig Anderson has played both games against the Red Wings this season and has turned away 60 of 63 shots against them. The 37-year-old is certainly looking a lot younger against this Detroit team.
Dylan Larkin has four goals and four assists in his last six games, looking to cement his position as the new leader of this team and a franchise player in Detroit.
This game will either be insane or something to put the kids to sleep to – nothing in the middle.
Red Wings Lines
The Wings will most likely stick with the same lineup as last night against the Leafs on Friday night. So we get to enjoy some more Justin Abdelkader on the first line. They have not been awful together, but the Abdelkader-Larkin-Nyquist line could be better without Abdelkader.
On the back end, the Wings are predictable but at this point of the season, there really is no use in arguing about who should or should not be playing right now. Filip Hronek would look nice and would add some much-needed youth and excitement to this team, but with under 30 games left, what’s the point?
Senators Lines
LW | C | RW |
RYAN DZINGEL | MATT DUCHENE | BOBBY RYAN |
BRADY TKACHUK | COLIN WHITE | MARK STONE |
ZACK SMITH | JEAN-GABRIEL PAGEAU | MAGNUS PAAJARVI |
NICK PAUL | CHRIS TIERNEY | MIKKEL BOEDKER |
LD | RD |
THOMAS CHABOT | DYLAN DEMELO |
MAXIME LAJOIE | CODY CECI |
MARK BOROWIECKI | CHRISTIAN JAROS |
One could argue that the Senators have a much better forward lineup than the Red Wings currently have. They have their rookie star in Brady Tkachuk and also experienced veterans like Matt Duchene and Mark Stone. Even while their depth lines are not the best, players like Chris Tierney and Jean-Gabriel Pageau can have some games where they’re the star.
Counter to that, their blueline is impressively much worse. Thomas Chabot has had an outstanding year, but other than him, every other defenceman is replacement-level. Just some warm bodies that are a little bit younger to give the mirage of a rebuild.
Starting Goaltenders
Jonathan Bernier
Bernier will certainly be starting in this second half of a back-to-back against the Senators. Sporting a hideous 5-12 record and an .892 sv%, Bernier has not had the best start to his career as a Detroit Red Wing. There are two more years of this, so strap in.
Craig Anderson
Easily one of the most likable players in the league, Anderson has made his mark as a consistent starter even with his age increasing. He has a 14-15 record for the Sens this season and a .906 sv% to boot. Not the best of his career, but Anderson can still win his team some games.
Puck drop is at 7:00 pm ET at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON. The game will be on Fox Sports-Detroit and on CityTV for the Wings fans North of the border.
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