Game two of the Red Wings’ western Canada road trip continues tonight in Calgary as the Red Wings are set to take on the Flames, fresh off a shellacking at the hands of Vancouver on Sunday night. A bounce back will be needed for a Detroit team that currently sits at 3-3-0 on the season against a team that had the best record in the Western Conference last season, featuring a high-powered offense led by Johnny Gaudreau.

The Red Wings are still dealing with to the regulars. Danny DeKeyser, and Adam Erne are game time decisions, per Jeff Blashill. Patrik Nemeth, who was listed as questionable, looks to be good to go. All three took the ice in the Red Wings optional morning skate, which is a great sign. Detroit will certainly need them against a talented Calgary squad.

It’s all about the top units for Calgary. The top line of Johnny Gaudreau-Sean Monahan-Elias Lindholm was one of the most dominant lines in the league last year and when coupled with the top pair of TJ Brodie and reigning Norris Trophy winner Mark Giordano, the Flames have the ability to roll out a stifling top group of players.

It’s no secret that the Red Wings top line is among the best in the NHL to start the season. All three of Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, and Tyler Bertuzzi are scoring more than a point-per-game on this young season, including Mantha’s 6 goals in 6 games. The top line has produced mostly all of Detroit’s offense this season, 11 of the team’s 17 goals in fact, including the team’s only tally on Tuesday in Vancouver. If the Red Wings are going to walk out of the Saddledome with a win, they probably need their top line to get on the score sheet at least once or twice.

Detroit’s defense had a brutal game against the Canucks, with Mike Green in particular being on the wrong end of nearly every Vancouver goal. With DeKeyser, one of the best defenders on the team, possibly out, the Red Wings have to hope that the remainder of their banged up blue line can patch together a solid performance against a potent offense. Jonathan Ericsson could make his season debut, Trevor Daley is skating on the top pairing, and Alex Biega is on the third pairing. Yeah, not great. It might take a miracle for this unit to be passable tonight, but any signs of life will be welcomed.

It was no secret that the Flames were held back last season by their faulty goaltending, as the tandem between Mike Smith and David Rittich did not pan out. Smith is now gone and Rittich is the full time guy, so far sporting a .912 SV% and a 2.80 GAA, pretty similar to his numbers a year ago when he was passed over by Smith in the playoffs. If Rittich can continue to assert himself as The Guy in net for Calgary, that will be a big boost for the Flames.