Back in the USA: Blues at Detroit Red Wings Preview

After a disappointing loss in St Paul, the Blues head immediately to Detroit to face the Red Wings. Once such a hate-fueled wonderful rivalry, now it just seems to ring hollow. It's hard to work up a solid fresh hate when you only see them twice a year. Let me try, though ... I'm sure once the game starts it'll be like riding a bike again.

The Wings are actually in a similar position as the Blues right now. While still perched in the top 3 of their division, they've lost 2 in a row and are starting to feel some heat from the teams below them. Just as we are missing Kevin Shattenkirk, the Wings have been without Pavel Datsyuk in those losses. It is not clear whether Pavel will be able to play today or not. Either way, it's still a scenario that I dread the most: the second of back-to-backs, with travel in between, an early start, and on national TV. What could possibly go wrong there?

It seems Carl Gunnarsson is questionable for today's game, having left the ice in the midst of the Wild game with a Upper Body Injury.  So we'll be seeing the defensive depth that we've built up actually put to use again. Also of note: this is essentially the "game in hand" with Nashville, who is idle tonight. This game puts us even in games played, so a tie in points and we actually drop to second place because of ROW. This is a borderline "must-win" game.

Despite last night's debacle in net, Coach Hitch is sticking to the game plan and starting Jake Allen today. It wasn't confirmed, but it is expected that Jimmy Howard will be in goal for the Wings. His year has been pretty average: 20-12-9 record on a 2.37 GAA and a .914 Sv%.

Further Reading:

Winging It In Motown

Blues vs Red Wings coverage

GameDay Twitter Feed

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Final Verse: Bright and early, at least in hockey terms. The puck drops at 11 AM St Louis time, and the GDT should drop shortly beforehand. This is a national TV broadcast, on NBC, but the radio call will still be on the reliable KMOX 1120 AM. Come join us in the GDT and mock the "national" crew butcher Blues players names as they do. Until then, a happy memory:

LGB!!!

and.. oh yeah... Fuck Detroit!