Thanks to the Winter Classic, Detroit’s annual New Year’s Eve game has been bumped up a day, giving us the first game of the home-and-home with Chicago tonight.
Chris Chelios remains in the lineup as Nicklas Lidstrom is staying out for another game. Derek Meech could also be back in as Mikael Samuelsson has been ill and may not be able to play.
Ty Conklin gets the start.
The Blackhawks are riding a franchise-high winning streak and by sweeping the Wings in these two days could tie them for first place in the Central Division.