from Dana Wakiji of DetroitRedWings.com,

The Red Wings will have a different look tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets, but not by choice.

Frans Nielsen did not make the trip and Wings coach Jeff Blashill confirmed that Andreas Athanasiou will also not play due to injury.

Instead, the Wings are expected to go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen.

"The advantage if we go 11 and seven is you get a chance, one, to put forwards on that line that has two, whatever the makeup is, they can give a different look to that, you have a chance to give some ice time to different guys," Blashill said. "Especially on the road it's a little bit easier because it doesn't disrupt the flow as much as because you don't have the opportunity to match as hard as you do at home. I like it a little better on the road than I do at home. If I play (Luke Witkowski), I'd like to play him on the back side not the front, he's been practicing lots of D and I thought he had a good game on D."

Witkowski has played in just one game this season, on Oct. 18 at Tampa Bay.

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