Red Wings-Coyotes: Detroit GameDay

that  Brett Lebda is out tonight with a wrist injury that he suffered during the first period of the Anaheim game.

Brett finished the game with 13:00 in TOI, so the injury can't be too serious, but the team can afford to be cautious with him. He told Doherty that he's day-to-day, leaving in question his status for Friday's game against the Avalanche.

Derek Meech will take Lebda's place in the lineup and should see time with Chris Chelios.

Doherty also indirectly confirms the return of Dallas Drake and Henrik Zetterberg by reporting Aaron Downey and Matt Ellis as healthy scratches. - Matt

Update (11:28 AM): It's worth noting that Phoenix's game in Columbus last night wasn't your run-of-the-mill road win. The Coyotes came back from two deficits and scored three third period goals to pull out a 4-2 decision over a pretty solid Blue Jackets team.

Early on, there's little doubt they'll be pumped from vaulting into the 8th spot with the win, but they may start to run out of gas just as the game hits the third period, during which the Wings play their best defensive hockey. - Matt

Update (10:35 AM): As hot as Peter Mueller has been, Radim Vrbata has been hotter: he produced a hat trick last Thursday and netted one more goal last night to bring his total to four in two games. Expect him to receive some special shutdown attention tonight. - Matt

Update (10:30 AM): Officials for tonight:

Referees: Dave Jackson (8) and Tom Kowal (32)
Linesmen: Greg Devorski (54) and Scott Driscoll (68)

Via NHL Media. - Matt

Update (9:23 AM): OklahomaWingNut has posted his GDT at Kukla's Forums.

Also, an AHL note: the Coyotes sent Tyler Redenbach to the Griffins on loan. - Matt

 Tonight is the fourth and final game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Phoenix Coyotes this season.  The Wings lead the series 3-0 with wins on October 20th (5-2), December 1st (3-2), and December 29th (4-2).

The 27-21-2 Coyotes are 9-3-1 in 2008, with their only losses coming to Edmonton (January 10th, 5-2), Minnesota (January 13th, 4-1), Columbus (January 17th, 4-3), and Chicago (January 19th, 2-1 SO).  

Phoenix started the month of January with four consecutive wins before they hit a patch of alternating wins and losses.  Since the shootout loss to the Blackhawks on the 19th, they have won three in a row, including games against the Sabres (6-2), Predators (4-3 OT), and Blue Jackets (4-2).  With the win over Columbus, which came last night, the Coyotes improved to 6-6-2 against the Central Division.

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