Game Seven Pregame Notes

The Red Wings head to Game Seven for the third consecutive series tonight. For the first time since 1991 they face a Game Seven on the road.

I don’t know what to expect going into tonight’s matchup. Detroit isn’t making any lineup changes but the Coyotes could see the return of captain Shane Doan, who completed a full practice with the team for the first time since leaving Game Three with a shoulder injury.

As I said yesterday, the Red Wings can win this one. Just last week they had an awful afternoon game at home and bounced back with a big win in the next game. There’s no reason it couldn’t happen again.

Sunday’s lack of effort should have no bearing on tonight’s game but – to me, at least – it does.

In the past I would have no problem with believing the Wings would flip a switch and get the big win. They’ve done it plenty of times.

After pathetic efforts on consecutive Sundays, however, I don’t know that the Red Wings want to flip that switch. If they wanted to, why the apathy in those two games?

In short, I believe the Wings have the ability to win but I don’t have faith in their desire right now.

Game time is 9:00 (not the previously-reported 10:00). We’ll see what happens.