DETROIT — The last two times the Blues and Detroit squared off, both Red Wings' victories at Joe Louis Arena, each team was playing on the second night of back-to-back games.
In those two late-December matchups, neither club even had a full-squad morning skate.
Tonight's game, which will be a battle for the No. 1 spot in the NHL standings, is different. Both the Blues and the Red Wings were off Sunday, and the focus with both clubs at this morning's workouts was very visible.
The Blues are 8-0-1 in their last nine games and the Wings have a six-game winning streak and have won a franchise-record 16 straight games at home. Two of the games in that streak were wins over the Blues — 3-2 on Dec. 27 and 3-0 on Dec. 31.
"It think the big thing for us is, we're the team that has to adjust now," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "If they put the same game out there, that style, we weren't good enough against that style. We're the team that has to adjust ... we're the team that has to make the changes here."
That doesn't mean the Blues are going to alter their style. They showed in Saturday's first period against Buffalo, they don't want to get involved in track meets on the ice. The Blues were forced to reel that game back into their comfort zone in the second and third periods and battle for a 4-2 win.
"I think our last two games against (Detroit), one period really killed us," Blues defenseman Barret Jackman said. "Once they got it turned around, we didn't have an answer for them. So I think 60 minutes is the big thing tonight, and if one shift doesn't go our way, we've got to come back with the next shift and get momentum back."
Detroit has won six straight games, but four of those victories have come in shootouts and one came in overtime. Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said that his team hasn't been working for opportunities lately, something that will have to change against the Blues.
"We haven't been skating, and if you don't skate tonight, you can't win," Babcock said. "This (Blues) team is going to skate and compete and we're going to have to do that as well. The other thing, we haven't been physical in the offensive zone at all. And you can't win tonight skilling your way around the rink ... you've got to work."
In addition to some game-plan adjustments, the Blues are changing their forward combinations tonight. Vladimir Sobotka will jump to the second line and play with Patrik Berglund and Matt D'Agostini, dropping Chris Stewart to the third line and moving Jamie Langenbrunner to left wing. Also, Chris Porter will replace Ryan Reaves on the fourth line.
When asked about the thinking on the different combinations, Hitchcock replied: "Speed. The last two games (against Detroit), we got outspeeded. As the game wore on, they were just quicker than us to areas. So we'll see."
The Blues will keep Jaroslav Halak in goal tonight, which will be his first game against Detroit this year. Brian Elliott has been in net for the previous four meetings. Halak is riding a career-high seven-game winning streak and is 11-0-3 in his last 14 games, but he is just 2-3-1 in his career against the Wings, with a 4.35 goals-against average and .873 save-percentage.
"You better get some traffic and get some second chances, or you're probably not going to score," Babcock said. "All year long, even prior to Hitch, this team has been real good defensively, hardly given up any shots. Halak didn't get off to the kind of start he wanted, Elliott kind of took over. We've played Halak in the past. He's a good goaltender, he takes the bottom of the net, he's not as big as Elliott ... he's different."
Jimmy Howard will be in net for the Red Wings. He's stopped 60 of 62 shots by the Blues in the last two meetings, including a 31-save shutout.
***
TONIGHT'S LINEUP
Forwards
David Perron-David Backes-T.J. Oshie
Vladimir Sobotka-Patrik Berglund-Matt D'Agostini
Jamie Langenbrunner-Jason Arnott-Chris Stewart
Chris Porter-Scott Nichol-B.J. Crombeen
Defensemen
Carlo Colaiacovo-Alex Pietrangelo
Barret Jackman-Kevin Shattenkirk
Kris Russell-Roman Polak
Goalie
Jaroslav Halak
***
CENTRAL DIVISION REPRESENTING
The Central Division is looking like it did in 2008-09, when the Blues were one of four teams to qualify for the Western Conference playoffs.
There are four teams - No. 1 Detroit, No. 4 St. Louis, No. 5 Chicago and No. 6 Nashville - among the top six teams in the conference standings going into tonight's action.
Including tonight, the Blues will play nine of their remaining 34 games against those three clubs and six of them are on the road. The Blues still have three games left in Chicago, where they've yet to play this season.
"It's always scary when four teams from the same division are in the playoffs in the hunt," Hitchcock said. "This is very unique what's going on. You've got four who are fighting for the division lead. There's what, (five) points difference between the four teams ... that's incredible. It's just going to make for unbelievable games when you're playing each other.
"This is the playoffs within the playoff race. That's what this is. From a fan's standpoint, from a business standpoint, you couldn't get a better situation. Every game is going to be the proverbial four-pointer, every game is going to have huge momentum swings ... every game is going to have an atmosphere of high consequences. It's going to get a lot of attention every time we play each other."
***
MILESTONE FOR NICHOL
Tonight will be NHL game No. 600 for Blues forward Scott Nichol, and while 600 may not have the same ring as 500 or 1,000, it does have special meaning.
It means Nichol will now have his own room on the road. Normally players are paired with roommates on the road, but in the NHL's collective-bargaining agreement, it specifies that those with 600 NHL games get their own personal digs.
"Now I don't have to push the two beds together and make 'Husky' sleep in the bathtub anymore," said Nichol, referring to roomate Kent Huskins. "So I'm sure he'll be happy with it."
On a serious note, Nichol said that he is cherishing reaching the 600-game plateau. Drafted by Buffalo in the 11th round in 1993, Nichol played six seasons with Rochester in the American Hockey League and another year with the Detroit Vipers of the International Hockey League before suiting up for his first full NHL season with Calgary in 2001-02.
"Anytime you look back, and it's hard when you're entrenched playing every night, but I guess you've got sit back and think about it for a moment," Nichol said. "It's nice, especially how I got here, playing seven years in the minors and then starting in the NHL real late in my career ... just keep plugging away."
***
ODDS & ENDS
- It doesn't appear that Blues forward David Backes will be receiving a last-minute invite to the NHL all-star game. Today, the league replaced injured all-star Mikko Koivu of Minnesota with Jordan Eberle of Edmonton.
- Speaking of Backes, the "Weenie of the Game" hat is sitting above his locker at Joe Louis Arena. Backes is the reigning "Weenie of the Game" after his four-point performance in Saturday's 4-2 win over Buffalo.
- Blues forward Alex Steen (concussion) did not make the trip to Detroit and won't play tonight. Forward Andy McDonald (concussion) and defenseman Kent Huskins did travel and skated with the team, but neither will play. The status of all three players, following the all-star break, is remains unknown.
- The Blues had 15 fights in their first 42 games this season. They have now had at least one fight in five straight games and eight total in that stretch.
