Preview: Red Wings play host to struggling Sharks

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 04: Dylan Larkin #71 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the New York Islanders at Little Caesars Arena on December 04, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 04: Dylan Larkin #71 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the New York Islanders at Little Caesars Arena on December 04, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The Detroit Red Wings play host to the San Jose Sharks tonight at LCA.  The Sharks lost their last game 8-5 to Pittsburgh on Sunday and are 4-6-0 in the last 10 games.

This is the first of two games this month between the two teams.

Game time at LCA is 7:30 PM ET.

Red Wings Notes

  • Detroit are currently 5th in the Atlantic Division with a 15-15-3 record
  • The Red Wings special teams are currently ranked 29th in the NHL, PP 14.4%, PK 76.9%
  • Dylan Larkin leads Detroit with 15 goals and 30 points in 29 games
  • Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider lead the Red Wings with 18 assists each
  • Seider leads all Detroit defensemen in scoring with 21 points in 33 games
  • Tyler Bertuzzi continues to lead the Red Wings with a +11 rating
  • Alex Nedeljkovic is expected to start and has an 9-8-3 record, 2.89 GAA, and .913 SV% in 22 games
  • Defenseman Nick Leddy has been cleared from Covid-19 protocol and is expexcted to play tonight

Detroit Projected Lineup

Forwards

Tyler Bertuzzi – Dylan Larkin – Lucas Raymond

Robby Fabbri – Pius Suter – Filip Zadina

Adam Erne – Michael Rasmussen – Vladislav Namestnikov

Givani Smith – Joe Veleno – Sam Gagner

Defensemen

Marc Staal – Filip Hronek

Danny DeKeyser – Moritz Seider

Nick Leddy – Gustav Lindstrom

Goaltenders

Alax Nedeljkovic (starter)

Thomas Greiss

Not in lineup

Carter Rowney (healthy), Jordan Oesterle (healthy)

Sharks Notes

  • San Jose are currently 6th in the Pacific Division with a 17-15-1 record
  • The Sharks special teams are currently ranked 12th in the NHL, PP 18.1%, PK 83.3%
  • Timo Meier leads San Jose with 21 assists, and 34 points in 28 games
  • Tomas Hertl leads the Sharks with 16 goals in 33 games
  • Meier also leads San Jose with a +11 rating
  • Goaltender James Reimer is expected to and has an 11-6-1 record, 2.61 GAA, and .919 SV% in 18 games

San Jose Projected Lineup

Forwards

Alexander Barabanov– Logan Couture – Timo Meier

Jonathan Dahlen – Tomas Hertl – Noah Gregor

Andrew Cogliano – Nick Bonino – Mathew Nieto

Jonah Gadjovich – Jasper Weatherby – Lane Pederson

Defensemen

Joacob Middleton – Erik Karlsson

Radim Simek – Brent Burns

Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Nicolas Meloche

Goaltenders

James Reimer (starting)

Adin Hill

Not in lineup

Jaycob Megna (healthy), Jeffrey Viel (healthy), Zach Sawchenko (healthy)