Pregame: Avalanche @ Red Wings – 12/21

With their losing streak now at five games, the Red Wings host the Colorado Avalanche tonight in their penultimate game before the Christmas break.

The Red Wings will look a little different, as starting goalie Jimmy Howard is out with a groin injury. Tom McCollum has been called up to back-up Petr Mrazek. To make room in the lineup for McCollum, Xavier Ouellet was sent back to the Grand Rapids Griffins, so Jakub Kindl will slot back in on the Detroit blueline.

Unrelated to any injuries, Daniel Cleary will replace Joakim Andersson at forward. It will be Cleary’s tenth game of the season, triggering a $1 million bonus in his contract.

Stupid stat of the day: The Red Wings are 1-2-2 against Brad Stuart’s teams since he left Detroit in 2012.

Game time is 6:00 PM on FSD.