Game Preview: Detroit Red Wings vs. Boston Bruins 12/31/23

The Detroit Red Wings are coming off a 5-4 win in overtime against the Nashville Predators on Friday night. The Boston Bruins are coming in playing the second half of a back-to-back after winnings last night’s game to the New Jersey Devils 5-2.

Detroit Red Wings (17-15-4, 38 Points) vs. Boston Bruins (21-7-6, 48 Points)

When: Sunday, December 31^st
Time: 5:00 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena (Detroit, MI)
TV: Bally Sports Detroit

Scoring Leaders

Detroit Red Wings

Points: Alex DeBrincat – 37
Goals: Alex DeBrincat – 17
Assists: Alex DeBrincat – 20

Boston Bruins

Points: David Pastrnak – 48
Goals: David Pastrnak – 22
Assists: David Pastrnak – 26

Expected Line Combinations

Detroit Red Wings

David Perron – Dylan Larkin – Lucas Raymond
Alex DeBrincat – J.T. Compher – Patrick Kane
Christian Fischer – Andrew Copp – Michael Rasmussen
Robby Fabbri – Joe Veleno – Daniel Sprong
Jake Walman – Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot – Jeff Petry
Olli Maatta – Shayne Gostisbehere

Boston Bruins

Pavel Zacha – Morgan Geekie – David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand – Charlie Coyle – Jake DeBrusk
Danton Heinen – Georgii Merkulov – Trent Frederic
Oskar Steen – John Beecher – Jakub Lauko
Mason Lohrei – Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm – Brandon Carlo
Parker Wortherspoon – Kevin Shattenkirk

By The Numbers:

League Ranking

Detroit Red Wings

PP%: 21.7 (14)
PK%: 80.2 (14)
GF P/G: 3.56 (3)
GA P/G: 3.42 (25)
Faceoff %: 49.0 (22)

Boston Bruins

PP%: 27.9 (4)
PK%: 85.9 (3)
GF P/G: 3.15 (15)
GA P/G: 2.59 (5)
Faceoff %: 49.8 (17)

Red Wings Player to Watch: Alex DeBrincat

In his first season with the Red Wings, DeBrincat played in 36 games, scoring 37 points on 17 goals and 20 assists. He leads the team in goals, assists, and points. He has 12 points on seven goals and five assists on the power play. Over his last five games, he has nine points on two goals and seven assists and is currently on a four-game point streak.

DeBrincat’s Line Assignments

DeBrincat will play on the second line with J.T. Compher and Patrick Kane. He also will play on the first power play with Compher, Kane, Dylan Larkin, and Shayne Gostisbehere.

DeBrincat’s career vs. Boston

DeBrincat has faced the Bruins 15 times in his career and has recorded 11 points, coming on six goals and five assists. Against the Bruins this season in three games, he has three points on a goal and two assists.

Between The Pipes

Detroit: Alex Lyon (5-3-0, 2.39 GAA)

Lyon made his return to the net on Friday against Nashville and got a win in overtime as he stopped 33 of the 37 shots he faced. He is 2-3-0 in his career against the Bruins, stopping 144 of 159 shots.

Boston: Jeremy Swayman (10-2-4, 2.17 GAA)

Swayman’s last start came on Wednesday against Buffalo, and he got the win, allowing one goal on 26 shots. In his career against Detroit, he has been 4-3-0 in seven games, and this season, he is 1-1-0, giving up five goals on 51 shots.

Wrap Up

The Red Wings got a much-needed win on Friday, and despite dropping nine of their last 12, they’ve gone 2-2-0 in their last four, and even though the two wins came in overtime, it’s something to still build off of. The combination of Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat is on fire, which has ignited the offense even more so; combined in the last five games, they have combined for 18 points, with both recording nine points each. On top of the offense, the Red Wings also got Alex Lyon back, and despite him allowing four goals, he still played well, and he’ll be back in there again tonight. The Red Wings have played their best hockey against the Bruins this season, especially in the last two matchups, as they won those 5-4 and 5-2; hopefully, they can start a winning streak now and pick up another win against the Bruins before heading on their West Coast road trip next week.

In their last ten games against Boston, the Red Wings are 5-5-0 and have been outscored 35-28 in those ten games. The Red Wings this season are 2-1-0 against the Bruins, outscoring them 11-10.

ITR 32: The Final Countdown – Inside The Rink

Join Chris and Conrad as they discuss everything in the world of hockey, including the Washington Capitals making two significant contract signings and the NHL Salary Cap to keep rising. John Tortorella is out of Philly, Eastern & Western Conference Roundups & More.

1. ITR 32: The Final Countdown 45:55
2. ITR 31: Let Them Fight 01:03:52
3. ITR 30: Down The Stretch 59:42
4. ITR 29: Trade Deadline Review 01:02:40
5. ITR 28: Deadline Week 44:07