Gameday Notes: Red Wings vs. Blue Jackets

The latest from the Detroit Red Wings matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Justin Abdelkader is out with a fractured cheekbone. The forward suffered the injury on Thursday when he got into a fight during the game against the Calgary Flames.

It appears this will not be a long-term injury for Abdelaker.

In other game day news, Jimmy Howard will get the start in net. Howard’s last start was on Monday against the Vancouver Canucks as the Red Wings won that game late in the third. Last season, Howard only made one appearance against the Jackets as a substitute.

Howard and Petr Mrazek will be wearing special Veteran’s Day masks.

Three Things to Watch

1. Artemi Panarin and Dylan Larkin were both part of the 2015-16 rookie class and finished high up in the Calder Trophy vote. Panarin would go on to win the Calder Trophy that season. Which player will have the bigger impact on Saturday night?
2. The Blue Jackets have lost four straight after a decent start to the season. They defeated the Red Wings three times last season. A loss to the Blue Jackets would not be a good reintroduction to conference play for the Wings but a win would kickstart their five-game homestand nicely.
3. Entering Saturday, the Blue Jackets have the worst power play conversion rate in the NHL. If it comes down to special teams then the Red Wings have an edge here.

Red Wings Projected Lines

F Line 1: Anthony Manta-Henrik Zetterberg-Gustav Nyquist

F Line 2: Tomas Tatar-Dylan Larkin-Andreas Athanasiou

F Line 3: Scott Wilson-Frans Nielsen-Darren Helm

F Line 4: Martin Frk-Luke Glendening-Luke Witkowski

D Line 1: Jonathan Ericsson-Trevor Daley

D Line 2: Xavier Ouellet-Mike Green

D Line 3: Niklas Kronwall-Nick Jensen

G: Jimmy Howard

Blue Jackets Projected Lines

F Line 1: Artemi Panarin-Alexander Wennberg-Cam Atkinson

F Line 2: Boone Jenner-Brandon Dubinsky-Oliver Bjorkstrand

F Line 3: Pierre-Luc Dubois-Nick Foligno-Josh Anderson

F Line 4: Gabriel Carlsson-Tyler Motte-Markus Hannikainen

D Line 1: Zach Werenski-Seth Jones

D Line 2: Jack Johnson-David Savard

D Line 3: Ryan Murray-Markus Nutivaara

G: Sergei Bobrovsky