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WGD: Game 54: Red Wings vs. Golden Knights

Feb 7, 2019, 16:19 EST

The Red Wings are back in action tonight after a prolonged break that saw them snag back-to-back victories against the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators.

Tonight, they look to extend their three game winning streak against the Vegas Golden Knights, a team that, coming off an incredible inaugural season, has continued to remain near the top of the standings. At this point, it’s unlikely they’ll claim the top spot in the Pacific Division, but they are comfortably in the top-3 and will more than likely make another playoff run this April.

THE RED WINGS

LW	C	RW
JUSTIN ABDELKADER Rating: 70.4#105 LW	ANDREAS ATHANASIOU Rating: 77.3#37 C	GUSTAV NYQUIST Rating: 76.2#45 RW
THOMAS VANEK Rating: 74.0#40 LW	FRANS NIELSEN Rating: 73.1#89 C	ANTHONY MANTHA Rating: 75.4#41 RW
DARREN HELM Rating: 71.3#139 LW	LUKE GLENDENING Rating: 71.1#140 C	MICHAEL RASMUSSEN Rating: 72.2#76 RW
CHRISTOFFER EHN Rating: 71.1#94 LW	JACOB DE LA ROSE Rating: 68.5#184 C	MARTIN FRK Rating: 69.6#115 RW

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS
NIKLAS KRONWALL Rating: 72.3#70 LD	MIKE GREEN Rating: 75.2#29 RD
DAN DEKEYSER Rating: 73.1#55 LD	NICK JENSEN Rating: 72.3#60 RD
JONATHAN ERICSSON Rating: 69.3#123 LD	DENNIS CHOLOWSKI Rating: 72.3#6 RD

The Wings will once again be without Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi, though that hasn’t hindered their success as of late. Andreas Athanasiou is filling in valiantly on the top line with Justin Abdelkader and Gustav Nyquist has stepped his game up a notch as rumors swirl around him nearing the trade deadline.

Michael Rasmussen is making his return from injury and he’ll slot in beside Darren Helm and Luke Glendening. I would expect him to take back his position on the power play as well.

Finally, Dennis Cholowski once again finds himself on the bottom pair and with dwindling minutes as he makes his way through a mid-season funk.

THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS

LW	C	RW
JONATHAN MARCHESSAULT Rating: 79.4#11 LW	WILLIAM KARLSSON Rating: 78.3#31 C	VALENTIN ZYKOV Rating: 72.9#66 RW
MAX PACIORETTY Rating: 78.0#17 LW	PAUL STASTNY Rating: 77.7#36 C	ALEX TUCH Rating: 77.1#23 RW
OSCAR LINDBERG Rating: 71.4#134 LW	CODY EAKIN Rating: 71.9#118 C	REILLY SMITH Rating: 75.8#37 RW
TOMAS NOSEK Rating: 71.5#129 LW	PIERRE-ÉDOUARD BELLEMARE Rating: 70.3#160 C	RYAN REAVES Rating: 71.4#88 RW

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS
BRAYDEN MCNABB Rating: 72.6#64 LD	NATE SCHMIDT Rating: 77.3#21 RD
SHEA THEODORE Rating: 78.3#6 LD	DERYK ENGELLAND Rating: 72.4#55 RD
JON MERRILL Rating: 71.5#86 LD	COLIN MILLER Rating: 77.1#22 RD

This Golden Knights squad has survived despite losing sniper winger James Neal. They’ve replaced him with Max Pacioretty, who’s had just an okay season so far with 16 goals and 29 points in 42 games.

Alex Tuch leads the offensive charge with 40 points and William Karlsson has put up a relatively uninspiring season with only 16 goals so far.

The Red Wings will see their former teammate, Tomas Nosek, on the third line.

BETWEEN THE PIPES

Marc-Andre Fleury vs. Jimmy Howard

Fleury gets the nod for the Golden Knights tonight. He has a .911 save percentage on the season and a good 2.47 GAA.

Howard has been Detroit’s lifeline all season. He’ll be on display tonight for potential suitors in a trade as Detroit’s set a high price for the pending unrestricted free agent.