The Detroit Red Wings got their redemption following a big win vs. the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night. It's gameday again, and the Wings have the Buffalo Sabres coming to town. It's a banged-up crew flying in, and the Wings, with some much-needed momentum built up, should have no trouble taking it on Saturday night.
Buffalo is 5-8-4, with a measly 14 points in 17 games. With 45 goals, they're having a tough time finding the net, and with 60 goals allowed, the novelty that netminders like Alex Lyon enjoyed earlier in the season is long gone.
The Sabres' injury report just keeps growing, and it's one reason for the team's struggles. Contributors like Zach Benson and Jiri Kulich are on the report, as are Jason Zucker and Josh Norris. Captain Rasmus Dahlin is also on the report for personal reasons.
Still, it's a test for the Wings to take care of business and not play down to what has become one of the weakest teams in the NHL once again. If the Wings start to consistently beat teams they're supposed to beat, they're going to have a much easier time busting that nine-year playoff drought, and it starts tonight.
John Gibson is ready to roll following injury
Goaltender John Gibson played just 40 minutes in the Red Wings' win over the Anaheim Ducks before leaving with an injury after taking a couple of pucks to the helmet. But he was good to go on Friday, even going as far as to practice with the team. Gibson has struggled this season, with just a 0.882 save percentage, a 3.14 GAA, and a 0.400 quality starts percentage, but right now, he's the Wings' best bet next to Cam Talbot.
While Sebastian Cossa and Michael Postava have been crushing it down in Grand Rapids, both have suffered injuries themselves to the point the Griffins had to call up reinforcements from the ECHL and bring on Dustin Tokarski. Therefore, unless the Red Wings have a contingency plan in place, Gibson is a valuable member of this club and must stay healthy at all costs.
The struggle has been real for Red Wings' rookies
After nine games this season, the Red Wings had seen enough of Michael Brandsegg-Nygard. The preseason sensation went to Grand Rapids following that nine-game stint after producing just a single point, a minus-5, and 12:27 of average total ice time.
Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Emmitt Finnie have also seen their fair share of struggles. Sandin-Pellikka played just 13:43 in Thursday's win over the Ducks, despite scoring a goal and blocking two shots.
Finnie, meanwhile, started off hot with eight points and four goals in his first nine games, but has been shut out since he scored in that 6-4 comeback win over the St. Louis Blues. During his eight-game pointless streak, Finnie has a minus-4 and turned the puck over 11 times.
These struggles are nothing to be overly concerned about if you're a Red Wings fan. They were expected from rookies, and chances are, Sandin-Pellikka and Finnie will be just fine as they keep getting acclimated to the NHL. As for Brandsegg-Nygard, you haven't seen the last of him, guaranteed.