Detroit Red Wings: Guide to watching the All Star Game

The stage is set for the 2019 NHL All Star Game on Saturday, January 26 in San Jose. This is the second time the game has gone to the Bay Area; the Sharks last hosted in 1997. For Detroit Red Wings fans, perhaps this is a welcome break from an otherwise pitiful season.

Every year, the NHL, more than any other major sport league, manages to make the All Star Game a unique experience. Rather than play a typical game (as the MLB, NBA, and NFL do), the NHL plays a short tournament, in which the four divisions face off against each other in single elimination, 20 minute, 3-on-3 games. It is fast. It is stressful. And it is exciting. Although the Detroit Red Wings only have one member on the team, fans of the NHL have a lot to enjoy.

Representing this year’s Red Wings squad is goalkeeper, Jimmy Howard. Based on the season he has had, Howard deserves the nomination. He has maintained a .916 save percentage while facing more shots than usual because of inconsistent defense. At this rate, he will face the most shots in his career. He is also on track to play as many games as he did last year, heights he had not reached since his early career. He has done all of this in his first full season without mainstay, Petr Mrazek backing him up.

The Red Wings are playing in close games this year: a single goal has decided 27 of their 51 games. They have lost only five games by three or more goals. Win or lose, Howard keeps the Wings in close games. If the defense can now minimize the shots against, the Wings would be in better shape. Regardless, they would undoubtedly be in a bleaker situation with many other goalies.

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With any All Star Game, every team claims a player or two were snubbed from consideration. Despite having a lackluster season, the Red Wings are no exception. It may come as no surprise, but one of this year’s snubs is Dylan Larkin. Coming off a monster contract signing, Larkin has proved his worth, putting up his typical stats and then some. At 21 goals, he will almost certainly reach the 30-goal plateau this year; his previous season-high is 23.

Larkin was an All Star in 2016 and is having a stellar year now, so why is he not an All Star this year? Some young centers, like Jack Eichel, are simply having better years, while others are leading first place teams such as Steven Stamkos in Tampa. More than likely, these factors made Larkin a comparatively weaker choice for 1C.

Another popular snub for the Red Wings this season is Gus Nyquist. Like Howard, we know the Red Wings are looking to sell high on him, possibly this off-season. In a contract season, Nyquist is moving the puck around more to create better scoring opportunities for the team. Like Larkin, however, there is a bottleneck of great forwards taking the remaining spots in the Atlantic Division. Other potential candidates, such as Mike Green, while making a difference on the ice, have not played in enough games to make the All Star cut.

Some of the usual competitors have already lit up the Detroit Red Wings during the regular season. The Wings are very familiar with John Tavares of the Maple Leafs. He has two goals and a whopping five assists against the Red Wings this year, and has had success against Detroit in past seasons too.

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Luckily, he will be lacing up on the same side as Jimmy Howard for the Atlantic. Howard may face up against the Flames’ Johnny Gaudreau. Howard and the Wings have struggled to contain him this season, and they have seen him as recently as a week ago in Calgary.

The weekend festivities begin Friday night with the Skills Competition Friday night at 9:00pm (EST) on NBC Sports Network, while the game is Saturday at 8:00pm on NBC. The Detroit Red Wings will return to regularly scheduled action on February 1 when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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