Detroit Red Wings will look to rebound in New Jersey

The Detroit Red Wings have been hot of late. The will look to get back on track after falling to the Sens on Thursday night.

The Detroit Red Wings are in New Jersey to lock up with the Devils this afternoon. Be aware it is a 1 pm puck drop today. The Wings were able to find a win a couple of weeks ago 4-3 against this team in Detroit.

The Devils top center Nico Hischier has missed the last two games. He is questionable for this afternoon. The top line for the Devils still has to potential to be a torn in the side of the Wings. Reigning Hart Trophy Winner (league MVP), Taylor Hall has the ability to take over a game. Kyle Palmieri uses his speed and determination to pressure offensively and create scoring chances continually.

Palmieri has 11 goals and 9 assists totaling 20 points in 17 games this season. Hall has a stash line of 5-14-19 in 17 games. The pair pace the Devils offensively. Marcus Johansson hasn’t produced with any regularity yet this season. He only has 5 points and is a minus 9.

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The Devils defensive core has been average at best. Vatanen has been day-to-day with an injury. Mirco Mueller seems like a solid defenseman, but as a group they are average. According to rosterresource.com Damon Severson is ranked their current best at 143rd in the league.

Double-A has recorded 6 points in his last 5 games. Since returning from a 5 game injury hiatus, Athanasiou seems to be playing with much more confidence. He has become dangerous every time he is on the ice. I would like to see him drive the net or merely rip a shot rather than trying to be real fancy. In Ottawa, he decided to deke and pull the puck around his back through his feet a couple of times instead of placing it on the outside and driving towards the net. He likes the flash but loses control too often, sometimes simple works better.

Larkin has cooled down offensively of late. He has 3 points in his last 5 games. Although he hasn’t been putting up the points, he was a week prior he remains the Detroit Red Wings best forward every night. He works extremely hard every shift and is tenacious on the backcheck. He will look to have a big afternoon in New Jersey.

Although Jimmy Howard will get the afternoon off his stats have been impressive of late and deserve to be mentioned. He has recorded 5 wins out of is last 6 starts. If Dylan Larkin isn’t the best player on the ice for the Detroit Red Wings, it has been James! Howie stood tall with little help early on in the season. Of late he has gotten goal support and hasn’t fallen back into being “comfortable.” He continues to be laser-focused and allows the Detroit Red Wings an opportunity to win each and every night.

Jonathan Bernier will get the start in the swamp this afternoon. In his last game, he was stellar in a Wings victory while making 49 saves against the Hurricanes.

The Detroit Red Wings projected lineup;

Darren Helm – Dylan Larkin – Anthony Mantha

Andreas Athanasiou – Frans Nielsen – Gustav Nyquist

Justin Abdelkader – Luke Glendening – Tyler Bertuzzi

Michael Rasmussen – Jacob de La Rose– Martin Frk

Trevor Daley – Mike Green

Dennis Cholowski – Niklas Kronwall

Danny DeKeyser – Nick Jensen

Jonathan Bernier

Jimmy Howard

Injuries; Thomas Vanek (day-to-day), Jonathan Ericsson (day-to-day), Evgeny Svechnikov (IR-Knee)