Game Preview: Detroit Red Wings at New Jersey Devils

The Matchup: The Detroit Red Wings (18-20-7 ; 6th, Atlantic ; SBN Blog: Winging It in Motown) at the New Jersey Devils (24-13-8 ; 2nd, Metropolitan)

The Time: 7:00 PM EST

The Broadcast: TV - MSG

The Devils’ Last Game: New Jersey is coming off a second loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in the span of a week. In that loss on Saturday the Devils surrendered three first period goals. They gave up a ton of scoring chances early, and looked unprepared as a unit. They attempted to get back into the game in the later periods, but failed to muster much offense in a game where they seemingly played reactionary hockey all night long. Here’s John’s recap of Saturday’s action. It would be in their best interest to get off to a good start tonight against a Detroit team who is win-less in it’s last five.

The Red Wings’ Last Game: Detroit also lost 3-1 on Saturday, in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Little Caesar’s Arena. The Red Wings fell behind early, but managed to tie the game late in the first frame, before eventually falling 3-1 on two power-play goals from Elias Lindholm. Here’s Wingin’ It In Motown’s recap of that game.

The Lineups: Sunday New Jersey placed goalie Keith Kinkaid (groin) and forward Brian Gibbons (hand) on injured reserve retroactive to Saturday’s game against Philadelphia. Coach John Hynes has not yet given a timetable for either’s return. Cory Schneider, after battling a stomach bug, appears to be back to 100%, and is expected to get the start tonight at Prudential Center. Taylor Hall was held out of practice on Sunday as a maintenance day, the team cited the same reason when Hall was absent from practice Friday. Hall is expected to go Monday night in Newark, and Blake Coleman will re-enter the lineup in Gibbons’ place. With the injuries to Gibbons and Kinkaid, New Jersey can activate Mirco Mueller from long-term injured reserve. The 22-year-old fractured his left clavicle on November 12, and played two games this weekend with AHL affiliate Binghamton. Coach John Hynes reiterated that he wasn’t sure if Mueller would be available for the Devils before the All-Star break.

The Detroit Red Wings official Twitter account had this to say about their laundry-list of injuries on Sunday:

What To Watch For: Taylor Hall has 12 points in 7 games after recording an assist in Saturday’s loss versus Philadelphia. The Red Wings appear to be a bottom of the conference team again this season, but they are still dangerous, and have forwards who can skate very well. They could be a handful if New Jersey performs in this first period how they did in Saturday’s first.

Wrapping Up: Surely everyone has some thoughts coming into tonight’s game. Let’s hear them in the comments section below. Have a good Monday, everybody.