Will He Stay of Go?

Kassian returns to the lineup following a 14 game absence due to a broken finger on November 25th, but was a healthy scratch for the last game.

Kassian grew up cheering for the Wings as he lived and grew up across either the bridge or the tunnel Windsor, which either way is a short road trip.

Canucks GM Jim Benning stated that he has taken calls from other teams about him (Kassian) who was acquired from the Sabres for Hodgson in 2012.

Kassian at 6’3″-  214lbs understand that he has to play a physical style more consistently.

Projected as a power forward with soft hands when the Sabres drafted him 13th in 2009, Kassian has failed to earn a top-six role with three different coaches since coming to Vancouver almost three years ago.

“You have to be physical and sometimes I’ve had trouble doing that,” said Kassian, who turns 24 later this month. “I’ve been put in the lineup to be physical and bring energy. I don’t think I am in a situation to really blow up the stats sheet by any means.”

Kassian finished last season with 10 points in his final 10 games, but has two goals and five points in 17 games this season, and is more focused on his physical play.

He said he knows it won’t be easy against the Wings team, who have (currently) the NHL’s third best PP in the league.

The Red Wings are starting a six-game road trip and play 17 of the next 23 games on the road, including another six-game trip through the end of February.

The Wings arrived in Vancouver Thursday; practiced Friday and are looking at getting a good start to this long trip.

The Red Wings are third in the Atlantic Division, but have played 23 of 39 games at home. Coach Mike Babcock said he sees the upcoming travel-heavy schedule as a test of how good they can really be.

Wings Coach Mike Babcock told the media “We want to keep pushing one another to get better and we have a chance to be good team, otherwise you just stay in the mud puddle with everybody and there are 20 teams in that group.”

He continued “There’s are a few at the top and a whole bunch of us that are all the same and one day you say ‘gee we’re okay’ and then you look below at who is underneath you and just out of the playoffs and you are not far away.”

Vancouver is a good place to start: Detroit has won three straight and recorded points in eight straight (6-0-2) against the Canucks.

Here’s hoping Zack has a good game, but are there ever a lot of Red Wing’s fans in the crowd tonight.