GAME DAY PREVIEW: Detroit Red Wings at Ottawa Senators 01/05/2026

It's a Monday night rivalry game in the Nations Capital, as the Detroit Red Wings (24-15-4) visit the Ottawa Senators (20-15-5) with a 7:30 p.m. puck drop.

The Senators are 5-3-3 against Atlantic Division opponents so far. The Red Wings are ahead of them by seven points, though they've played three more games. With this being the first of four meetings between these two clubs this season, to say it's a big one would be an understatement.

Here's how things looked at the Senators' morning skate, as we saw the return of an injured player, and yet another shakeup to Ottawa's forward lines.

SENATORS PROJECTED LINEUP

Zetterlund - Stützle - Giroux

Tkachuk - Cozens - Batherson

Greig - Pinto - Amadio

Cousins - Halliday - Perron

Sanderson - Zub

Chabot - Jensen

Kleven - Spence

Meriläinen

Shepard

Extras: Eller, MacDermid, Matinpalo

Out: Ullmark (personal leave).

TAKEAWAYS

Claude Giroux has moved to the top line, swapping spots on the third unit with Ridly Greig. Meanwhile, Fabian Zetterlund has been moved to the left side.

Lars Eller returned to practice for the first time since breaking his foot on Dec. 11 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He alternated line rushes with Stephen Halliday, but isn't ready to return just yet.

The defensive pairs are unchanged, though I expect we see Nikolas Matinpalo draw back in at some point this week.

Leevi Meriläinen starts in goal once again, after looking solid and putting up a .913 SV% in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets.

But if there was any standout from Saturday's win, it was Thomas Chabot. The longest-tenured Senator scored twice, took a puck on the chin that required a few stitches, and returned to finish the game.

Tim Stützle extended his point streak to 12 games (eight goals, 11 assists), the sixth-longest in Senators franchise history.

RED WINGS PROJECTED LINEUP

(Yesterday's practice)

DeBrincat - Copp - Kane

Kasper - Larkin - Söderblom

van Riemsdyk - Compher - Raymond

Finnie - Rasmussen - Appleton

Edvinsson - Seider

Chiarot - Sandin-Pellikka

Johansson - Bernard-Docker

Gibson

Talbot

Extras: Danielson, Leonard, Hamonic.

Out: None.

OPPONENT REPORT

The Red Wings did not skate this morning, but they are looking to shake up their lines after back-to-back losses against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday and Saturday.

Head Coach Todd McLellan confirmed that John Leonard, called up from AHL Grand Rapids, will draw into the lineup while Nate Danielson will sit. That still leaves one forward to come out.

John Gibson will start in net, and enters tonight with 13 wins in 24 games, with a .895 SV% and 2.93 GAA.

There are a lot of former Senators on this roster; Jacob Bernard-Docker, Travis Hamonic, Cam Talbot... and of course, Alex DeBrincat.

And if there's one player to watch out for, it's him. DeBrincat has goals in back-to-back games and is currently scoring at a 42 goal pace.

LOOKING AHEAD

If Eller is good to go for Ottawa's road trip this week, it will be interesting to see if Halliday is sent down to Belleville. He hasn't looked out of place whatsoever at the NHL level, but contracts may dictate things. Both may travel on the trip if Eller's status is uncertain.

Another thing to watch: is Mads Søgaard recalled?

The Senators have a back to back with travel this week against Utah and Colorado. It would probably be a lot to ask of 23-year-old Leevi Meriläinen to play in both games, meaning it's either Søgaard or Shepard that will have to draw in.