Gameday Preview: Nashville at Detroit

So far the Red Wings season has been the tale of two fortunes. 

In the beginning, the team was starting to compile injuries and had a demoralizing loss to the Blues 6-0 on Opening Night. They were able to right the ship with the mounting injuries and play some good hockey, going 7-4-1 to close the quarter mark of the season. 

There was a fear that all these injuries to top players like Darren Helm, Todd Bertuzzi and Johan Franzen would begin to affect the team on the record sheet. 

Sure enough it has. 

During the last five games, the Red Wings have given up two goal leads in every game and have lost, either in regulation or in overtime. 

For the Predators, who beat the Wings last Tuesday, they are trying to catch up to the historic start the Chicago Blackhawks are running off right now. 

The hope for the Predators is that the Hawks will begin to come back down to earth and they can quickly ascent to the top of the standings. 

With a crucial division game, here are four things to watch out for on Saturday in Hockeytown.

Previous Game Breakdown

The Red Wings came home for the first of three games at the Joe on Thursday to square off with the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

Right away, the Red Wings got started with the scoring from Damien Brunner and Valtteri Filppula potting two goals within 2:40 in the first. 

Columbus struck for three straight goals after that, including Vinny Prospal's go-ahead goal with 24.7 seconds left as Detroit dropped another game with a two goal lead and extended their losing skid to five. 

The Predators played a very physical game with Western Conference power Vancouver on Friday in Nashville. 

Both goalies, Roberto Luongo and Pekka Rinne, were sensational for both teams, stopping a combined 46 shots on the night.

It was a defensive lapse by Nashville, however, that let Dale Wiese sneak in behind coverage and bury a rebound past Rinne at 9:14 of the third period to give the Canucks a win, 1-0,  and Wiese his first goal of the season.

Starting Lineups

Mounting injuries for the Red Wings have created a new look to their top six forward core. 

It is likely that coach Mike Babcock will continue using his same lines for Saturday's action. 

This means that the top line will be Damien Brunner on the wing with Henrik Zetterberg on the other wing, and Pavel Datsyuk now reunited at Center for the Red Wings. 

A depleted defense will likely see a top tandem of Niklas Kronwall and Ian White to start out. 

Jimmy Howard will make his 16th start of the season against the Predators. 

Nashville plans to counter with a line centered by Mike Fisher and have Martin Erat and Sergei Kostitsyn on his wings. This has been a look that the team has tried in the past. Barry Trotz could also give first line minutes for Colin Wilson, a young player who has finally broken out since being drafted seventh overall in 2008.

Shea Weber will be on the back end with Roman Josi or Ryan Ellis, and in net the Preds will have Pekka Rinne likely to start. 

Key Matchups

Red Wings fans are slowly developing an inherent dislike for the Predators. 

Part of it was because they are a division rival, but also because of the playoff run last season that humbled the Red Wings. 

There is no argument however that every time Shea Weber touches the puck, he will be serenaded with boos. 

In last year's playoffs against Detroit, Weber slammed Captain Henrik Zetterberg's head into the side boards as time expired in Game 1. No suspension was given.

For the Red Wings, they will need to have their defense playing cohesively against the Predators in order to win. 

Also the power play must get stronger and be more effective; something that will be tough to do against the Predators, a strong defensive team under head coach Barry Trotz.

Final Game Prediction

The Red Wings are more than desperate for a win at this point.

They need to keep the momentum going from their 7-4-1 start and wait for the healthy pieces to come back into the lineup. 

For the Predators, they just need to keep up their pace in chasing the Blackhawks. Their team has rebounded very well despite losing Ryan Suter this offseason and with Pekka Rinne in the net, the Red Wings will have a tough time trying to bury pucks in behind the Preds' Finnish goaltender. 

And both teams will be playing a high energy, physically demanding game. The Red Wings look to rekindle some spark in their power play against the strong Nashville penalty kill.

Each game in this abbreviated season means everything for the Red Wings. With reports surfacing that Johan Franzen will be available after this weekend's home games, the team will look to sustain a two goal lead and gain some points in the standings. 

Final Score: Nashville 3, Detroit 1