Update (5:35 PM): Looks like it was Jimmy Howard that got the call, not Stefan Liv. Maybe Joey won’t get two starts after all. It’d be a real waste for Jimmy to sit on the bench after having just returned from an injury. Given that, I wouldn’t think they’d call him up if they weren’t intending to play him.  - Matt

Tonight is the third of four games between these teams this season. The series stands at 1-1, with the Wings winning the first meeting 3-2 on November 1st and the Flames getting revenge with a win on November 17th, 4-1. The fourth game will take place on March 20th in Calgary.

The Northwest Division-leading Flames are 2-1-2 thus far in February and have managed at least a point in nine of their last ten games. They beat Vancouver 3-2 on the 3rd, but have lost each game since, including matchups against Chicago (SO), Columbus, and Buffalo (SO). Tonight will be the last in a three-stop road trip for the Flames, who have a three-game homestand after this.

The Flames made a splash on the trade market yesterday when they dealt defenseman Andrew Ference and forward Chuck Kobasew to Boston in exchange for blueliner Brad Stuart and forward Wayne Primeau. Stuart was one of the most sought-after defensemen said to be on the market and it’s pretty impressive that Calgary was able to lock him up two weeks before the trade deadline. He should be an immediate help to the Flames, whose defense will be even deeper. He and Primeau are expected to be in the lineup tonight.

Miikka Kiprusoff will be in net tonight for the Flames.

The Wings had a five-game winning streak extending back to January 28th ended by a 1-0 loss to St. Louis on Thursday. It was the first time they had been shut out since January 7, 2004 when the Bruins won 3-0. They’ll try to get right back in the saddle tonight before heading out on a three-game road trip that will take them to Philadelphia, Dallas, and Phoenix. I’m interested in the Flyers game, which is tomorrow, because we’ll get to see Peter Forsberg in action.

Detroit is three points behind the Predators for the Central Division lead. Nashville, surprisingly enough, lost last night to the Kings at home, 4-1, and now have a couple days off before they play a tough San Jose team on the 14th.

Joey MacDonald will be in net tonight as Dominik Hasek will be resting his wrist, which is inflamed. Dom will sit out at least two games in hopes that the rest, along with some medication, will cause the inflammation to go down. If not, they’ll take another look and consider giving him cortisone.

As of 11:30 AM, the AHL site does not list either Stefan Liv or Jimmy Howard as being called up to serve as MacDonald’s backup. Megan and I were talking about it last night and she pointed out that the Wings will probably call up Liv because they’d rather Jimmy get playing time instead of sitting on the bench for a couple games.

Danny Markov is slated to return tomorrow in Philadelphia, not tonight.

This is an important game for the Wings, who need to get right back to winning after a disheartening loss on Thursday. They’ll have to play better in front of MacDonald than they have been and give him the support he deserves. This is a great opportunity for them to start playing a whole game, as well.