Update (8:27 PM): It looks like Homer may be a game-time decision now. - Matt

Update (3:21 PM): Ansar Khan confirms that Lilja is with the team in Alberta, but reports that he is still dealing with headaches and is unsure when he’ll be able to start working out off the ice. A return to skating isn’t even on the radar yet. Not good news.  - Matt

Update (2:52 PM): Helene St. James reports that Holmstrom is out tonight, despite feeling well enough to play. The team isn’t taking any chances, especially considering it’s a knee. We won’t see Homer again until he’s as close to 100% as a player can be at this point in the season.

She also confirms that Osgood will be in net. - Matt

… This is the final regular season meeting between these two teams. The Wings lead the series 2-1. Calgary won the last game, 5-6 in overtime on March 13th.

… The Flames have won just one of the three games they’ve played since the 13th, a 2-1 decision over Dallas on Wednesday. Prior to that, they lost 8-6 to Toronto on the road.

On Friday, they fell victim to a desperate St. Louis team that’s trying to claw its way into the playoffs. The Blues scored twice in the third period to come back from a 2-1 deficit and win 3-2. The loss has the media in Calgary asking questions about the Flames’ killer instinct. It’s certainly something they had on March 13th so I wouldn’t get too worried, Flames fans.

… Calgary is third in the West with 88 points and has yet to clinch a playoff spot or their division. They’re being chased by the Vancouver Canucks, who are playing very well lately (aside from this).

… The Flames have allowed a league-worst 15 shorthanded goals, a stat guys like Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk may have in mind tonight on the penalty kill.

… Andre Roy (upper body) is listed as questionable. Mark Giodano (shoulder), Rhett Warrenr (shoulder), Wayne Primeau (knee) and Rene Bourque (ankle) are out.

… Miikka Kiprusoff will start in net for the Flames.

… The Wings are undefeated in four games since losing to the Flames and have played some of their best hockey of the season, with the exception of the last game. Their win over Atlanta on Friday re-opened some defensive questions, but was otherwise a solid outing.

… The Sharks passed the Wings into first place last night with their 3-1 win over Colorado, bringing their point total to 106 (to Detroit’s 105). Both teams have now played 72 games, but San Jose will regain a game in hand after tonight.

The Wings are just four points from clinching the Central Division.

… Andreas Lilja (concussion) will sit out his 9th straight, but was expected to join the team on the trip in the hope that he might be able to practice.

… Tomas Holmstrom (knee) is listed as questionable. We should know more on his status later in the day.

… Assuming Holmstrom’s still out, the starting units shouldn’t change tonight:

Franzen-Datsyuk-Samuelsson
Cleary-Zetterberg-Hossa
Hudler-Filppula-Kopecky
Meech-Draper-Maltby

Lidstrom-Rafalski
Kronwall-Stuart
Lebda-Ericsson

… Chris Osgood should be starting tonight. If so, Ty Conklin should get the nod tomorrow in Edmonton.

… The Wings obviously have a motive for exacting revenge on the Flames for the March 13th loss, and if they can do it in a way similar to how they took out the Blue Jackets last week in response to the 8-2 game, great. Otherwise, I’d prefer they just take care of business without looking to get back at Calgary.

The Flames will be looking to rebound from their loss on Friday and are going to take it to the Wings physically. If they start getting into penalty trouble, it’ll be Detroit’s job to capitalize this time.