The Detroit Red Wings (6-4-3) play the St. Louis Blues (6-6-1) Saturday in a matinee game. The Red Wings are 5-1-3 in their last nine games.
They are only one point out of a playoff position in the Eastern Conference. The Blues are only two points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
That includes a 2-1-1 western road trip. Coach Todd McLellan’s team is three points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and rank 21st in the NHL.
The Blackhawks rank 31st out of the NHL’s 32 teams. Where: Little Caesars Arena When: 1 p.m.
ET TV/Radio: DSN/97.1 FM Odds: St. Louis (-1.5, +220), Detroit (+1.5, -270), DRAFTKINGS Detroit Red Wings Hot: No player is more important to the Red Wings than Moritz Seider. He leads Detroit defensemen in assists (7), points (7), power play points (3), shots (26), blocks (37) and average ice time (25.55) over the first 13 games.
Not: Carter Mazur has played 16 NHL games and is looking for his first NHL goal. Spotlight: Victor Arvidsson scored his first hat trick as a Red Wings player Thursday against Chicago.
He now has registered hat tricks with four different teams (Detroit, Boston, Los Angeles and Nashville). The only players in NHL history to score a hat trick with more franchises are Bill Guerin (6), Radim Vrbata (5), Brendan Shanahan (5), Tony McKegney (5), Ivan Boldirev (5) and Eddie Shack (5).
Story: Coach Todd McLellan said Friday that John Gibson would be in net against the Blues. The Red Wings are 4-3-1 at home.
The Red Wings rank 26th in the NHL in scoring at 2.69 goals per games, but their goals-against-per-game (2.77) ranks sixth. The Red Wings sent Axel Sandin-Pellikka to Grand Rapids and recalled Jacob Bernard-Docker.
The Red Wings want ASP to play heavy minutes in GR to help his development. The Red Wings leads all NHL teams in points by rookies (5-12-17).
Injuries: Marco Kasper (upper body). Mason Appleton (upper body), both could be back in 10 days.
Albert Johansson (undisclosed) likely to miss at least three more days. Detroit Projected Lines Alex DeBrincat — Emmitt Finnie — Victor Arvidsson Michael Brandsegg-Nygard — Andrew Copp — Lucas Raymond Michael Rasmussen – J.T.
Compher — Nate Danielson Carter Mazur – Sheldon Dries — Keegan Kolesar Defense Pairings Ben Chiarot — Moritz Seider Andreas Englund — Anton Johansson William Wallinder — Justin Faulk Goalies John Gibson will start (Daniil Tarasov is backup) Subs: Jacob Bernard-Docker St. Louis Blues Story: The Blues are coming off a 4-1 against Boston.
Dylan Holloway is leading the Blues with 11 points. The Blues have the NHL’s seventh-best power play (25.7%) Injuries: Tyler Tucker (knee), Logan Mailloux (hand), Dillon Dube (neck), Ross Johnston (lower body) Projected Lines Jake Neighbours — Robert Thomas — Jimmy Snuggerud Pavel Buchnevich — Mason McTavish — Jonatan Berggren Dylan Holloway — Dalibor Dvorsky — Connor McMichael Alexey Toropchenko — Pius Suter — Aleksanteri Kaskimaki Defense Pairings Philip Broberg — Brandon Carlo Cam Fowler — Colton Parayko Justin Barron — Adam Jiricek Goalies Joel Hofer or Jordan Binnington Sub: Quinton Burns
