Mar 17 :: In Nomine Patri, Et Fili, Et Spiritus Sancti

WHAT’S ALL THIS THEN?
The Red Wings spend St. Patrick’s Day in Ohio, taking on the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second half of back-to-back games. Thursday, 7pm Eastern.

NOW WHERE WERE WE?
Mercifully, this is the sixth and final time these two teams will meet. The most recent game was February 4th, a 3-0 loss. My bad.

BEST NAME NOMINEE
Rusty Klesla was traded, meaning there’s a slot open. The obvious choice is Grant Clitsome.

THEIR LAST GAMES
:: Detroit took a 3-2 win from the Capitals last night.
:: Columbus lost 3-2, in a shootout, to Boston on Tuesday.

EXPECTED LINEUP
By special request, the TPL Glossary is ready to jailsex your eyes.
Franzen — Datsyuk — Holmstrom
Cleary — Zetterberg — Bertuzzi
Filppula — Modano — Abdelkader
Eaves — Helm — Miller

Lidstrom — Ericsson
Kronwall — Stuart
Kindl — Rafalski

MacDonald
Howard

Holy Shit, There are Scratches?!
Kris Draper [rotation]
Ruslan Salei [baby daddy bidness]
Jiri Hudler [H2N2 flu]
Chris Osgood [groin asploded]

The TPL Name Game “Three Stars”
Disch: Nicklas “I’m Sweatin’ My Ass Off Draggin’ Your Fuckin’ Rope Around. Must Weight Thirty Pounds” Lidstrom
Petrella: Jimmy “Well That Certainly Illustrates the Diversity of the Word” Howard
Hollis: Kris “We Haven’t Really Got a System of Deciding Who, Roc. It’s, Uh…” Draper
*Now it’s up to you! Think up your best names and throw them in the comments — the best one will be shared for all to enjoy on the TPL Facebook Page. The best of the best will be pitted against one another at season’s end, and the winner takes home a TPL Shirt of their choice.*

TIDBITS
:: Patrick Eaves returns to the lineup tonight after missing 10 games.
:: Jiri Hudler is a scratch, thanks to the flu. Eaves will likely take his spot.
:: Drew Miller will return to the lineup, per Coach Babcock, after being scratched for the last two. There’s no indication which other forward will be scratched in his favor, but the rotation would have you believe it’d be Kris Draper — BUT! — he was 100% from the faceoff circle last night, which is likely the reason he’s been playing more than a game at a time. Interesting decision pending.
:: Joey MacDonald starts this game, which likely means that Chris Osgood was to start. If the Wings find a way to lose, I’m absolutely blaming Osgood.
:: PREDICTION — 5-2 Red Wings. Too hot.

WHAT WE LEARNED AGAINST THE CAPITALS
Wait, Alex Ovechkin has a good shot? Who could have known that?