The Detroit Red Wings may be off back-to-back losses, but this is a good spot for the boys from Motor City to bounce right back. They're hosting the second worst team in the NHL as the Edmonton Oilers are coming to town, and the visitors are just as lowly as ever winning only one of their last seven games. The Red Wings won 4-2 at Edmonton on Jan 6th, and I think they have potential to win even bigger home at Joe Louis Arena tonight.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Situational/Motivational - The Oilers were visiting Carolina last night for a game of hockey they might have felt they actually had a good shot at winning. They had to leave town as 7-4 losers though, despite holding a 3-0 lead until midway through the second period and now have to travel to Detroit the very next day. The Red Wings came up short in a 5-3 loss at Boston as the Bruins made up some ground for a direct playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. Detroit has now lost two straight and need to get back to its winning ways in order to keep the distance to the Bruins.

2. Special Teams - The Oilers penalty kill ranks among the worst in the league and was a lowly 2-for-5 last night. They went 2-for-3 on the power play as well but have generally struggled on the man advantage converting on just above 16% of their opportunities over the season. They'll be up against the very best power play in the NHL as Detroit is scoring on close to a quarter of their chances to play with a man advantage. They have a power play goal in seven of their last eight match-ups and more fireworks would not come as a surprise tonight.

3. X-Factor - The Wings star netminder Jimmy Howard was supposed to be rested yesterday but had to take the ice in the third period as Jonas Gustavsson suffered an injury. Expect Howard to back in net from start tonight, and expect him to keep dominating the Oilers like he has over 11 consecutive wins behind a 1.43 GAA.


Selection: This is a play on the Detroit Red Wings -1.5