GAMEDAY PREVIEW Game 23: Detroit Red Wings vs. Montreal Canadiens & Projected Line Combos

The Detroit Red Wings are coming off a much-needed win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night, winning 5-1. The Montreal Canadiens are coming off a 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday night.

Detroit Red Wings (12-7-3, 27 Points) vs. Montreal Canadiens (10-11-2, 22 Points)

When: Saturday, December 2
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Centre Bell (Montreal, QC)
TV: Bally Sports Detroit

Scoring Leaders

Detroit Red Wings

Points: Alex DeBrincat – 21
Goals: Alex DeBrincat – 12
Assists: Dylan Larkin -13

Montreal Canadiens

Points: Cole Caufield – 19
Goals: Cole Caufield – 7
Assists: Cole Caufield– 12

Expected Line Combinations

Detroit Red Wings

Joe Veleno – Dylan Larkin – Lucas Raymond
Alex DeBrincat – J.T. Compher – Michael Rasmussen
Robby Fabbri – Andrew Copp – David Perron
Klim Kostin – Christian Fischer –Daniel Sprong

Jake Walman – Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot – Jeff Petry
Justin Holl – Shayne Gostisbehere

Montreal Canadiens

Alex Newhook – Nick Suzuki – Brendan Gallagher
Cole Caufield – Christian Dvorak – Juraj Slafkovsky
Joel Armia – Sean Monahan – Josh Anderson
Tanner Pearson – Jake Evans – Jesse Ylonen

Michael Matheson –Gustav Lindstrom
Kaiden Guhle – Justin Barron
Jayden Struble – Jonathan Kovacevic

By The Numbers:

League Ranking

Detroit Red Wings

PP%: 23.4 (8)
PK%: 79.0 (17)
GF P/G: 3.68 (4)
GA P/G: 2.91 (13)
Faceoff %: 49.1 (22)

Montreal Canadiens

PP%: 16.7 (23)
PK%: 73.9 (27)
GF P/G: 2.70 (29)
GA P/G: 3.48 (25)
Faceoff %: 52.9 (5)

Red Wings Player to Watch: Robby Fabbri

Fabbri has played ten games this season after missing time with a lower-body injury. He has recorded nine points, coming on seven goals and two assists. He has three power-play points coming on two goals and an assist. He has scored five goals in his last five games and has a goal in two straight games.

Fabbri’s Line Assignments

Fabbri will play on the second line tonight with J.T. Compher and Andrew Copp. Fabbri is also on the second power-play unit with Copp, Joe Veleno, Daniel Sprong, and Moritz Seider.

Fabbri’s career vs. Montreal

In his career against Montreal, he has played in 12 games and recorded seven points on four goals and three assists. Last season, in one game against the Canadiens, he recorded a goal.

Detroit: Ville Husso (7-4-1, 3.44 GAA)

Husso’s last start came on Wednesday against New York, where he suffered a loss stopping 38 of 41 shots. In his career against the Canadiens, he has made five starts; in those starts, he is 3-0-2 and has given up eight goals on 139 shots. He faced the Canadiens four times last season and went 3-0-1, with two wins coming as shutouts.

Montreal: Jake Allen (3-5-1, 3.59 GAA)

Allen’s last start came last Saturday against Los Angeles, a game in which he lost, allowing four goals on 30 shots. In his career against the Red Wings, Allen is 5-2-4 and has made 12 appearances, stopping 319 of the 342 shots he has faced.

Wrap Up:

The Detroit Red Wings are reaching a stretch in their schedule where they have games that good teams win, and if they can do just that, they are in good shape, and it’s only a matter of time before they add Patrick Kane to their lineup.

In their last ten games against Montreal, the Red Wings are 6-2-2 and outscored them 28-26. his season, the Red Wings lost their lone matchup to the Canadiens 3-2 in overtime.

ITR 31: Let Them Fight – Inside The Rink

Join Conrad and Chris to discuss WHL expansion, Thatcher Demko returning from IR, Gabe Viladri out week-to-week, Gabriel Landeskog a full practice participant, and the NHL referees stopping a goalie fight. Join in on all this and MUCH more!

1. ITR 31: Let Them Fight 01:03:52
2. ITR 30: Down The Stretch 59:42
3. ITR 29: Trade Deadline Review 01:02:40
4. ITR 28: Deadline Week 44:07
5. ITR 27: Trade Season Begins 01:07:33