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WGD: Game 36: Red Wings vs. Hurricanes

Dec 20, 2018, 12:58 EST

Currently on a four game losing streak, the Wings are looking to bounce back in Carolina tonight. Both of these teams have been performing very similarly over the course of this season. They are locked in a tie in the standings with 33 points and have identical 3-5-2 records in their last ten games.

Tonight will be the third match-up between these two this season. Carolina took the first one by a score of 3-2 and Detroit won the second in a 4-3 shootout. The tie breaker tonight will shoot them over their opponent and the Ottawa Senators in the standings.

THE RED WINGS

Detroit Red Wings lines via DailyFaceoff

LW	C	RW
GUSTAV NYQUIST Rating: 75.1#35 LW	DYLAN LARKIN Rating: 78.6#29 C	JUSTIN ABDELKADER Rating: 70.5#105 RW
THOMAS VANEK Rating: 71.8#78 LW	FRANS NIELSEN Rating: 72.4#92 C	ANDREAS ATHANASIOU Rating: 74.5#57 RW
TYLER BERTUZZI Rating: 72.5#68 LW	LUKE GLENDENING Rating: 69.3#175 C	MICHAEL RASMUSSEN Rating: 71.5#125 RW
CHRISTOFFER EHN Rating: 72.0#74 LW	JACOB DE LA ROSE Rating: 67.8#186 C	MARTIN FRK Rating: 69.4#108 RW

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS
NIKLAS KRONWALL Rating: 71.4#85 LD	NICK JENSEN Rating: 70.9#81 RD
DENNIS CHOLOWSKI Rating: 71.8#74 LD	TREVOR DALEY Rating: 70.6#106 RD
JONATHAN ERICSSON Rating: 68.4#134 LD	FILIP HRONEK Rating: 72.5#47 RD

The Red Wings have been struggling to score big time lately. They are hurting pretty bad, both offensively and defensively, with the absence of Mike Green on the blue line. Dennis Cholowski, their only other defenseman with the prowess to score consistently, can’t handle that whole load.

As for the forwards, the 4th line contributed a goal in Tuesday’s outing against the Flyers and Dylan Larkin continues to shoulder the offensive weight. Personally, I’ve thought Thomas Vanek has looked atrocious lately. He may be doing some mentoring off the ice, but I really hope none of the young players pick up his habits on the ice.

THE HURRICANES

Carolina Hurricanes lines via DailyFaceoff

LW	C	RW
JORDAN MARTINOOK Rating: 71.0#101 LW	SEBASTIAN AHO Rating: 79.9#13 C	TEUVO TERAVAINEN Rating: 75.9#29 RW
ANDREI SVECHNIKOV Rating: 73.9#47 LW	LUCAS WALLMARK Rating: 73.1#75 C	JUSTIN WILLIAMS Rating: 75.5#32 RW
WARREN FOEGELE Rating: 72.0#75 LW	VICTOR RASK Rating: 71.5#124 C	PHIL DI GIUSEPPE Rating: 69.4#126 RW
JANNE KUOKKANEN Rating: 73.2#74 LW	CLARK BISHOP	BROCK MCGINN Rating: 71.2#83 RW

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS
JACCOB SLAVIN Rating: 76.4#17 LD	BRETT PESCE Rating: 73.8#36 RD
CALVIN DE HAAN Rating: 73.9#39 LD	JUSTIN FAULK Rating: 75.9#26 RD
TREVOR VAN RIEMSDYK Rating: 72.4#63 LD	DOUGIE HAMILTON Rating: 77.9#16 RD

The Hurricanes are the epitome of a team who should have a better record. Nevermind the top-4, their top-6 is impressive. But, I guess there’s only so many goals a good defense can prevent. At the end of the day, they need the support in net to win games.

Sebastian Aho leads the offensive charge by a long shot on this team, with 12 goals and 34 points. The Hurricanes only have two players who have broken the 10-goal mark and two players who have broken the 20-point mark this season. Andrei Svechnikov has looked impressive with 9 goals and 17 points so far in his rookie campaign.

BETWEEN THE PIPES

Jonathan Bernier vs. Petr Mrazek

Well, this should be a high scoring game. Jonathan Bernier has been incredibly underwhelming this season and, with Howard out with an injured back, will get the nod tonight. Petr Mrazek has also been underwhelming in Carolina, posting an .899 save percentage and further proving the Red Wings’ decision to part with him as the right one.

HOW TO WATCH

Puck drop is at 7:00 P.M. ET tonight and you’ll be able to watch the game on Fox Sports Detroit or Fox Sports Carolina.

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