Detroit Red Wings: Lottery hopefuls square off in the Big Apple
By Bob Heyrman
The Detroit Red Wings square off tonight with the New York Rangers in the “big apple.” For the Wings, it’s become a four-team race to the finish line.
Speaking of apples, I’m sure everyone knows that old saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Well, the members of the Detroit Red Wings haven’t been eating their apples. As we head into Spring the trees are starting to bud; the grass will be green before you know it.
For the Wings, the tree keeps dropping leaves. Justin Abdelkader is the latest victim; he is expected to be out for the remainder of the season with a hairline fracture in his leg. Veteran defensemen Jonathan Ericsson, Mike Green, and Trevor Daley all remain out with various injuries. For the “lose for Hughes” camp, no one will bat an eye for these players being absent.
The replacement players bring little to no upside other than Taro Hirose. The forward will make his NHL debut tonight for the Detroit Red Wings. The 22-year-old forward who recently signed a two-year entry-level contract with the team is coming off of a terrific season with the Michigan State Spartans. Through 36 games with Sparty Hirose recorded 15 goals, added 35 assists totaling 50 points.
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Ryan Kuffner was another youngster that made his debut over the weekend will already be the odd man out tonight. Why would the organization already scratch him? To me, they should send Christoffer Ehn back to Grand Rapids to help the Griffins finish the season strong as they eye the top spot in the Western Conference. Ken Holland mentioned Kuffner and Hirose would both get opportunities in Detroit this season yet one already lands in the press box.
The Detroit Red Wings currently sit four points out of last place. The competition has become a bit more robust of late; the L.A Kings have snuck into the second last place two points fewer than the Wings. It’s hard to buy into “tanking” but when a pair of players, difference makers, franchise changers sit waiting and the season is already lost I feel the organization needs to do all they can to put themselves in position to add a Hughes or Kakko. The Detroit Red Wings have an intense schedule remaining playing seven playoff contending teams, so wins will be hard to come by down the stretch.
The Rangers have separated themselves from the pack a bit, they sit with 69 points, nine more than the Wings. I’ve always liked King Henrik and as you may have guessed he’s struggled this season to put up the type of numbers he is used too. He will be in goal against Jimmy Howard tonight. Howard 18-20-5 with a 3.07 GAA/0.907 SV| Lundqvist 18-19-10 with a 3.01 GAA/ 0.909 SV.
The Detroit Red Wings projected lineup:
Darren Helm – Dylan Larkin – Anthony Mantha
Tyler Bertuzzi – Andreas Athanasiou – Luke Glendening
Thomas Vanek – Frans Nielsen – Taro Hirose
Christoffer Ehn – Jacob de La Rose – Michael Rasmussen
Niklas Kronwall – Luke Witkowski
Next. Wings should consider shutting Dylan Larkin down. dark
Time: 7:00 pm
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Watch/Listen: Fox Sports Detroit, MSG, ESPN+, NHLTV, 97.1 the ticket
Oddshark Odds: Rangers -150
Previous Ten Meetings: Wings 6-2-2