Game Three Pregame Notes

The Red Wings face a must-win in their first home game of the series tonight against the Sharks. A loss puts them a game from elimination and needing to win four in a row.

Patrick Eaves is out again for Detroit. I’ll let Mike Babcock explain the impact of that…

Patrick Eaves for us is a forechecking, banging, penalty-killer. Thats’ where the adjustment is. When you take 10 penalties in a game you can use a penalty-killer. Our plan tonight is to not take any penalties, so we don’t have to worry about it as much.

And that’s all I’m saying about penalties before the game.

Detroit also needs to be better in the faceoff circle. It hasn’t hampered much of their offense but winning some defensive-zone faceoffs in the first two games could have prevented several goals.

Tonight is the Red Wings’ fourth home game of the playoffs but the first at their usual home start time of 7:30 PM.