Detroit Red Wings GameDay: @ Montreal (13-9-4, 30 Pts) 7:30 ET

Update (5:38 PM): The Canadian Press has nice piece on Mike Babcock and his return to Montreal (specifically, McGill University) here. - Matt

Update (5:25 PM): Ansar Khan agrees with Helene St. James and says that the Eurotwins will be split, as they were to begin the last road game, in Columbus. Tonight, I expect a similar result: they ended up back on the same line before long. - Matt

Update (2:55 PM): Whoops, I forgot that the game is on Versus tonight, not FSN. Evidently, they will not air any of the pre-game ceremony. Typical. - Matt

Update (2:21 PM): Bruce MacLeod reports that Mike Babcock has not confirmed he’s splitting up the top line. Apparently, he doesn’t know yet what line he’s starting. I don’t know if I buy that, but it seems certain Babcock is thinking seriously of having the Eurotwins center their own lines, at least to start. Whether or not he’ll actually follow through is the question. - Matt

Update (1:55 PM): Helene St. James confirms that Kirk Maltby (back/”upper body”) will not play tonight. He did not skate today, after feeling sore this morning.

St. James also suggests that the lines will be different tonight:

Franzen-Zetterberg-Samuelsson
Filpulla-Datsyuk-Holmstrom
Cleary-Hudler-Drake
Kopecky-Ellis-Downey

We’ll see how long those last. My guess? Not long.  Pavel, Hank, and Homer will be back together before you know it. - Matt

Update (9:50 AM): The Montreal Gazette has a Gordie Howe-related story you may have never heard. And be sure to check out the companion piece over at Habs Inside/Out - Matt

Update (7:15 AM): HockeyTownTodd has his preview posted. - Matt

Tonight is the only game between these two Original Six teams this season. The teams met once last year as well, with the Wings winning 2-0 on January 15th.

The Canadiens posted a 7-7-0 record in November, but are 2-4-1 over their last seven. They have not one two or more games in a row since they beat the Sabres and Bruins on the 5th and 8th of last month, and their longest winning-streak of the season was four games back in October. Until recently, they’d also not lost more than one in a row, but they dropped two to Buffalo in a back-to-back series on the 23rd and 24th, beat the Maple Leafs three nights later, and proceeded to lose their next two, including a 5-4 shootout loss to Nashville on Saturday. The Habs blew a three-goal lead in the final eight minutes of the game. An interesting item from the boxscore: Greg De Vries and David Legwand were called for cross-checking and hooking, respectively, at 5:00 of overtime. At that point, why bother even calling the penalties?

Alexei Kovalev is the team leader in goals and points with 12 and 23. Saku Koivu leads in assists with 15.

It doesn’t look like there are any injuries to the Canadien skaters, but forward Michael Ryder will sit. It’s a wakeup call for the former 30-goal scorer.

Cristobal Huet, who played the entire game against Nashville, is out indefinitely with a groin injury. 20-year-old Carey Price will start instead tonight.

For the Montreal perspective, check out A Theory of Ice, Habs Blog, Les Glorieux, and Habs Inside/Out.

The Wings are 5-1-1 in their last seven and have won three in a row. Their most recent game was an underwhelming performance against the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday. After tonight, they return home to play Minnesota on Friday and Carolina on Sunday.

The team leader among forwards not named Zetterberg, Datsyuk, or Holmstrom is Dan Cleary, who has nine goals and seven assists. Jiri Hudler has six goals and ten assists. The top-scoring defensemen are, predictably, Nick Lidstrom (3G, 20A) and Brian Rafalski (3G, 19A).

Kris Draper (knee) remains out, but Kirk Maltby (”upper body”) practiced yesterday and may return. If not, Dallas Drake will fill in on the third line with Dan Cleary and Johan Franzen, while Matt Ellis will center the fourth line with Tomas Kopecky and Aaron Downey.

Dominik Hasek will get his first start in four games tonight.

Be sure to stop by Snapshots, Gorilla Crouch, Abel to Yzerman, HockeyTownTodd, Gloveside, Behind the Jersey, No Pun Intended, Red Wings Nation, and Winging It In Motown today.

Tonight is a big game for those of us who love the history of the sport. The Habs will put on a ceremony an hour before the puck drop that will commemorate the rivalry between the two teams with guests including Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Alex Delvecchio, Jean Beliveau, and others. Those of us with FSN Detroit can expect to see at least some of that beginning at 7:00.

I expect a good game from both teams. The Habs have hit a rough patch, but they should have plenty of motivation to get back on track tonight. The Wings, on the other hand, have a chance for a win against an Original Six team not from Chicago and should be primed to play well.