I love when I get the chance to watch the Red Wings play, so I am looking forward to tonights game. The Wings are a well oiled machine and give their opponents a lesson in puck control every night. Also Pavel Datsyuk is one of my favorite players in the league to watch. He plays a complete game in all areas of the ice. He has nasty hands and excellent vision, he doesn't get all the same run that Ovechkin, Stamkos, and Malkin get, but he is just as good if not better.

Tonight starts the week which will end or turn around the Sabres season. With the Sabres making stops in Detroit tonight, Chicago Wednesday, Winnipeg Thursday, and St. Louis Saturday, those 4 teams carry a home record of 66-18-9. The Red Wings come into tonight winners of 14 straight at home looking to set a new franchise record of 15 at the Sabres expense. In the other corner the Sabres come in losers of 8 straight on the road second longest skid in the team history, something has to give tonight. With the Sabres scoring struggles Jimmy Howard may not be the man they want to see to solve their problems. Howard is 26-10-1 with a 2.04 GAA and a .924 save % 4 shutouts, he is right in the middle of the Vezina race this year.

Injuries are again the story in Buffalo, Regher joined the list after Saturdays loss in Long Island. He is going to be out "some time". The Sabres blue line is getting thin with McNabb and Regher to miss all the games this week. Ehrhoff has a chance to play Wednesday in Chicago. Andrej Sekera will return tonight from his shoulder injury. Sekera had a break out game last year against Detroit after he was shown the press box for a few games. He had 2 goals in that game including this nice backhander...

TJ Brennan has been recalled to replace Regher and Joe Finley will be the healthy scratch tonight. Still confused why Finley played instead of Brennan Saturday, but I don't even bother stressing over the personnel decisions anymore. Vanek will play after taking a puck to the face on Saturday, he continues to be a leader on this team and carry them on his back.

Ryan Miller will be in the net tonight playing in his hometown against his little brother Drew Miller. Ryan has struggled in his career against Detroit. He knows how important it is to turn the season around now and he is putting the teams success on his back. Let's if Ryan can answer his own call out.

Expected lineup:

Vanek-Hecht-Pominville

Gerbe-Roy-Stafford

Adam-Leino-Boyes

Ellis-Gaustad-Kaleta

Myers-Weber

Sekera-Leopold

Brennan-Gragnani

Miller

(Enroth)

Prediction: I tried to be not so negative in this blog, because I hate negativity, but my feelings on this team haven't changed. Wings will give the Sabres a lesson in how to play the game tonight, 4-1 Wings.