The Detroit Red Wings are facing elimination in today’s Game 5 and they’re changing things up a bit.
Forward Daniel Alfredsson will be back in the Detroit lineup after missing the past two games with a back problem. Alfredsson will take Todd Bertuzzi’s spot in the lineup.
Forwards aren’t the only change as Jakub Kindl will take a seat in favor of rookie Xavier Ouellet. Kindl has been paired up with Brian Lashoff on Detroit’s third defensive pairing and they struggled mightily in Game 4. With the Wings facing elimination on the road in Boston, coach Mike Babcock has to try something to help out the blue line.
Detroit already has their hands full with Jimmy Howard taking a seat due to the flu and Jonas Gustavsson getting the start. Gustavsson played admirably in Game 4 in place of Howard but still took the loss on Jarome Iginla’s overtime goal. Howard will back up Gustavsson in Game 5.