Big Points on the Line Vs. Preds

Just like the 81 other games this season, it's worth just the two points, but in the context of current situation the Wings face, it's about the biggest two points of the season thus far.

Currently, Detroit sits 8th in the West with a meager one point lead on 9th-placed Calgary. Just ahead in the standings, in 7th, is Nashville with 75 points meaning a regulation win for the Red Wings will bring them within 3 points of the Preds.

So far, Detroit leads the season series 2-1, two games being hosted by Nashville. It's feasible that the result of the season series could be an important advantage at the end of the season if the standings continue to tighten as they might.

The Red Wings are coming off a disappointing 6-3 home loss against Vancouver, while Nashville are aiming at their fourth straight win after getting by the young, but impressive L.A. Kings last night.

Todd Bertuzzi acknowledged the team's poor perforamce on Wednesday and says it's being addressed, "(Wednesday) was pretty much unacceptable, especially against a team coming in after playing the night before. The performance we gave was just not right. We addressed it, and we’ve got the same scenario coming in tomorrow -- Nashville is playing (Thursday), and we’ve got to make sure we’re ready."

An improved performance will definitely be required or Detroit faces the unwelcome situation of being 7 points in arrears of the 7th-place in the West.

Lines were shuffled for Thursday's practice with these lines skating:
Holmstrom - Datsyuk - Franzen
Cleary - Zetterberg - Williams
Bertuzzi - Filppula - Miller

With Pekka Rinne starting for Nashville last night and Jimmy Howard's uncharacteristically bad game against Vancouver, the starters in net are uncertain for now.