If you pay any attention to the standings at all, it should go without saying that this is a big game, for both teams. Both teams face must-win situations and should be stepping up their game accordingly. If nothing else, we should be in for some great hockey tonight. And, I hope, a win for the Wings.
Calgary’s a different team since we saw them last, as is being pointed out by the media today. In my mind, the biggest difference is no more Dion Phaneuf, but additions like Niklas Hagman, Chris Higgins and Jamal Mayers are worth attention, especially given that those guys are from the East. That unfamiliarity, coupled with the fact that the Wings will already be unfamiliar with this configuration of the Flames, make tonight’s challenge that much greater (though not something they can’t overcome, obviously).
In net, we’ll see Miikka Kiprusoff, who had a rough finish to the Olympics when he was chased by the Americans. That makes him seem less of a threat, but he is capable of turning his game on and really making things difficult for the Wings. Even if he’s allowed three and four goals since the Break in two games.
The Wings have won three of four since the Break and are coming off a huge win in Chicago on Sunday. If the offense can explode like it did against the Blackhawks, they’ll be in great shape. Kiprusoff’s a better goalie than Huet, though, so that may be difficult. They’ll be better off playing the kind of defense that doesn’t allow four goals.
Jonathan Ericsson will be in the lineup over Brett Lebda today. Here’s hoping he responds to his benching well. Todd Bertuzzi and Pavel Datsyuk are both slated to play despite sitting out yesterday (and today, in Datsyuk’s case).
Jimmy Howard is in net tonight and for once you won’t hear me complain about that. All games are important now, so it’s harder and harder to justify starting a rusty Osgood (even if the Wings should have the ability to win in spite of him at this point) but for games like this, with two points with a direct competitor for the 8th spot on the line, that’s even more true.
It’s generally pretty dumb to try to assign much importance to one game out of 82, but if there is an important regular season game this year, this is it. There’s still enough time left that a loss tonight could be made up for and the winner will by no means be a lock for anything, but there’s no denying its importance. “Must win” is overused by all of us these days, but I think it actually applies this time.