Take a second to play a fun little game of 'Guess which Hawks players in the photo are still on the roster' and then we'll begin the show.
Done? Yeah, it's not as exciting as it sounds, but it's funny to note that the most important player in that pic for Chicago is the one who ISN'T there anymore.
Detroit makes its preseason home debut tonight against the defending (read: pretending--half the squad wasn't even there last year) Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks. With a projected lineup that looks much more like something we'd see during the regular season, the Wings will be looking to show Marty Turco that you can change your shirt and change your number, but that doesn't mean we don't still 'got your number'.
It's looking early on like Datsyuk and Zetterberg, as well as defensive stalwart Nick Lidstrom, will all be playing tonight against the champs; meanwhile, Johan Franzen will be sitting for approximately 3 games due to a thigh injury sustained from Pittsburgh goon Brooks Orpik. Also of great note: one of Detroit's brightest prospects, one Brendan Smith, appears to be making his debut for the Wings tonight as well, so that will be very interesting to watch.
After the one-sided showdown in Steeltown, I think the key for Babs tonight would definitely be to get the boys playing MUCH more defensively aware and responsible. Let them know that performances like that of Brian Lashoff will not cut it in Hockeytown, and push for the excellence we know our guys, both young and old, possess. With Lids on point and Jimmah filling the crease tonight, I expect this to be a much closer game, one the Wings have every chance of winning. Let's open the Joe in good fashion for this 2010-11 season!!
Till tonight, Wingnuts! Let's Go Red Wings!!
