Preview: Detroit Red Wings vs. Edmonton Oilers

The Detroit Red Wings will continue on their western swing in Edmonton tonight with a game against the Oilers.  In November, Detroit won the first game of the season series 4-2.  The Oilers  are on a two game winning streak and are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games.

Game time tonight is 9:00 PM ET at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB.

Players Focus: Marc Staal (LD, Detroit)

Marc Staal played in his 1000th game in  Calgary on Saturday night.  Staal is currently in his 2nd season in Detroit and is serving as an alternate captain this year.

Staal is having another steady season in the NHL.  In 52 games, Staal has scored one goal, nine assists, 10 points, and leads the Red Wings with a +9 rating.

Staal is in the last year of his contract that pays him $2M a season.  Staal will be an UFA at the end of the season and is definitely a player that may be on the move before Monday’s trade deadline.

Red Wings Notes

• Detroit are currently 5th in the Atlantic Division with a 24-28-7 record
• The Red Wings are currently 27th in PP (17.3%) and 31st in PK (72.8%)
• Dylan Larkin leads Detroit with 27 goals and 57 points in 54 games
• Moritz Seider leads the Red Wings with 36 assists in 59 games
• Seider leads all Detroit defensemen in scoring with 41 points
• Lucas Raymond is currently 2nd in NHL rookie scoring with 45 points in 59 games
• Defenseman Marc Staal leads the Red Wings with a +9 rating
• Goaltender Thomas Greiss is expected to start and has an 8-10-1 record, 3.77 GAA, and a .887 SV%, in 24 games
• Olli Juolevi is expected to play his first game for Detroit tonight

Detroit Projected Lineup

Forwards

Valdislav Namestnikov – Dylan Larkin – Lucas Raymond

Jakub Vrana – Joe Veleno – Sam Gagner

Filip Zadina – Pius Suter – Givani Smith

Taro Hirose – Michael Rasmussen – Adam Erne

Defensemen

Nick Leddy – Moritz Seider

Olli Juolevi – Filip Hronek

Marc Staal – Troy Stecher

Goaltenders

Alex Nedeljkovic (starter)

Thomas Greiss

Scratched: Gustav Lindstrom, Luke Witkowski, Jordan Oesterle

Injured: Robby Fabbri (lower body), ), Carter Rowney (lower body), Mitchell Stephens (lower body), Danny DeKeyser (undisclosed), Tyler Bertuzzi (Covid-19)

Oilers Notes

• Edmonton are currently 3rd in the Pacific Division with a 32-23-4 record
• The Oilers special teams are currently 6th in PP (24.6%) and 23rd in PK (76.2%)
• Connor McDavid currently leads the NHL scoring with 83 points in 58 games
• Leon Draisaitl leads the Oilers with 39 goals in 59 games
• Evan Bouchard leads all Edmonton defensemen in scoring with 31 points
• Draisaitl also leads all Oilers players with a +15 rating
• Mikko Koskinen is expected to start and has a 21-9-3 record, 2.98 GAA, a .906 SV% and one SO in 34 games

Edmonton Projected Lineup

Forwards

Evander Kane – Connor McDavid – Kailer Yamamoto

Ryan McLeod – Leon Draisaitl – Zach Hyman

Warren Foegele – Devin Shore – Derek Ryan

Josh Archibald – Brad Malone – Zack Kassian

Defensemen  

Darnell Nurse – Cody Ceci

Duncan Keith – Evan Bouchard

Philip Broberg – Tyson Barrie

Goaltenders

Mikko Koskinen (starting)

Mike Smith

Scratched: Tyler Benson, William Lagesson

Injured: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (shoulder), Kris Russell (undisclosed), Kyle Turris (undisclosed), Oscar Klefbom (shoulder), Jesse Puljujarvi (lower body)