No Datyuk- understandable. No Alfredsson- welcome back Bert.

Detroit is the only team playing tonight involved in the wild card race in the East and two points tonight would mean this...

Detroit would have 86 points with 76 games played.

It would put 3 point cushion between themselves and Columbus, with the BJs playing one less game.

Toronto would be 4 points behind while playing one more game than Detroit and Washington would be 5 points behind with both teams having played the same number of games.

Two points, any way they can get them, gives the Wings some breathing room.