The Detroit Red Wings (8-4) play the fourth game of a five-game road trip tonight with a contest against the San Jose Sharks (4-6-2). Detroit is 2-1 on the trip.
Where:Â SAP Center
When: 8 p.m., ET
TV/Radio: FanDuel Sports Network/97.1 FM
Odds: Detroit (-1.5, +130), San Jose (+1.5, -155), ESPNBet
Hot:Â Alex DeBrincat has scored a goal in each his past four games.
Not: Jonatan Berggren was minus-3 in the 5-2 loss to Anaheim.
Spotlight:Â Marco Kasper slow start was underplayed for a while because Emmitt Finnie started hot. But with Finnie cooling, the Red Wings are hoping Kasper is finally about to become the player he was in the second half of last season.
Absence: Patrick Kane has missed the last seven games with an undisclosed upper body injury.
Story: The Red Wings haven’t said who is starting in goal, but Cam Talbot is the likely choice… Detroit’s goaltending now ranks 26th in the league this season with a team save percentage of .886…Moneypuck,com now has Detroit at 42.6% probability to qualify for the playoffs… Patrick Kane is close to returning, but the Red Wings haven’t said when he will return.
Detroit Projected Lines
Emmitt Finnie — Dylan Larkin — Lucas Raymond
Alex DeBrincat — Marco Kasper — Mason Appleton
Andrew Copp — JT Compher — Jonatan Berggren
Elmer Soderblom — Michael Rasmussen — James van Riemsdyk
Defense Pairings
Simon Edvinsson — Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot — Axel Sandin-Pellikka
Albert Johansson-Trevor Hamonic
Subs: Forward Austin Watson, defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker.
Goalie
Cam Talbot (John Gibson backing up)
San Jose
Story: The Sharks sit 30th in the NHL’s overall standings, but they have won the three of their last four, including overtime wins against Minnesota and Colorado… Macklin Celebrini continues to take his game into the superstar level, with 18 points in 12 games. The Red Wings have reason to believe their power play can do some damages against San Jose. The Sharks rank 30th in the NHL with penalty killing efficiency of 65.8%…The Sharks are tied for last with a 4.17 goals-against average. But they only gave up only two goals in each of their last two wins. Injuries: Timothy Liljegren, Ryan Reaves and Nick Leddy (day-to-day)
Sharks Projected Lines
Tyler Toffoli — Macklin Celebrini — Will Smith
Philipp Kurashev — Alexander Wennberg — William Eklund
Jeff Skinner — Michael Misa — Collin Graf
Barclay Goodrow — Patrick Giles — Ty Dellandrea
Defense Pairings
Dmitry Orlov — Timothy Liljegren
Mario Ferraro — John Klingberg
Shakir Mukhamadullin — Vincent Desharnais
Goalies
Former Red Wings goalie Alex Nedeljkovic (Yaroslav Askarov backing up) (Unconfirmed)