Canadiens vs Red Wings game thread

The Habs are in Detroit tonight to face a team they are competing with for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Sitting four points back of the Habs and with one game at hand, the Detroit Red Wings are one of the best teams in the league on team defense, and number one on the powerplay. Having won twice against the Red Wings already this year, the Habs will look to utilize their 5 v 5 play, as the Habs rank sixth in terms of goals for & against 5 v 5.

The Detroit Red Wings are coming off a shootout loss against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, their second loss in a row after a stretch of 7-1-0 over their previous eight games. Mike Babcock has coached his team to a solid record of 31-13-10, putting them in contention for the Conference lead which the Habs now hold at 76 points.

The Habs will be without defenseman Sergei Gonchar tonight as he has sustained a lower-body injury. The Canadiens recalled Greg Pateryn from the Hamilton Bulldogs yesterday to shore up their defense, although it will be Mike Weaver who still start alongside Alexei Emelin tonight. Gonchar's status is listed as day-to-day.

Detroit has allowed the least shots on goal in the league (1089), and have a Corsi-Against number of 1870, meaning a lot of shots taken against them don't hit the net. The Habs had 68 shots attempts against the Leafs in Saturday's shootout win. They played a solid defensive game up until the end of the third when they held the Leafs to 44 shot attempts, but by the end of overtime had allowed 52.

The puck drops at 7:30 PM EST.

Scratched: Jiri Sekac, Greg Pateryn
Injuries: P.A. Parenteau (concussion), Sergei Gonchar (lower-body)

Scratched: Danny Cleary, Jonas Gustavsson
Injuries: Johan Franzen (headaches)

Check out the enemy over at Winging It In Motown.

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