Red Wings confirm new line combinations vs. Lightning
The Detroit Red Wings have shaken things up a bit when it comes to their line combinations as they go for their 8th straight victory today against the Lightning.
The Detroit Red Wings have a chance to achieve something they haven't done since their most recent Stanley Cup-wining year of 2008 this afternoon when they host the divisional foe Tampa Bay Lightning at Little Caesars Arena (1:00, ABC, ESPN+, 97.1 The Ticket).
Goaltender Alex Lyon makes his return to the net, while the Red Wings will also have forward J.T. Compher back in the lineup for the 1st time since January 27, which was also against the Lightning.
He was struck with a high hit at the blue line by Tampa's Emil Lilleberg, who was suspended for the next pair of games as a result.
Compher returns today and he'll slot onto the 4th line alongside Joe Veleno and Jonatan Berggren, while Christian Fischer will be coming out of the lineup.
Per MLive's Ansar Khan, today's line combinations will comprise of the following:
Kasper - Larkin - Raymond
DeBrincat - Copp - Tarasenko
Soderblom - Rasmussen - Kane
Veleno - Compher - Berggren
Power play units:
1. DeBrincat (net front), Larkin (bumper), Raymond-Kane (flanks), Seider (point).
2. Rasmussen (net front), Compher (bumper), Berggren/Kasper rotating-Tarasenko (flanks), Gustafsson (point).
Todd McLellan is helping forge an identity for the Red Wings
Since taking over on December 26, head coach Todd McLellan has led the Red Wings to a pair of 7-game winning streaks, the first time in franchise history they've achieved that feat within a span of 20 games.
In McLellan's words, what has the team changed since he arrived?
But not dramatic changes. Not just take a paintbrush and paint over everything. Just small adjustments. Players understand our language now, too, so we can fix things quicker. We can do it verbally instead of having to show video. That's maybe as important as all the changes in the system stuff.
