Detroit Red Wings at Colorado Avalanche
The lone game on schedule after the 10-day Olympic break has the Avalanche hosting the Red Wings.
Detroit has the bigger adjustment to make. The club surrendered a good portion of its roster, including head coach Mike Babcock, to the international tournament.
“We need to make sure we are ready to come out on Monday and start winning some games, and those guys are a big part of that,” assistant Wings coach Paul MacLean told The Detroit News. “I am sure it won't take long for them to come to that understanding.”
The coaching staff better hope it doesn’t take too long. Detroit is in a battle just to qualify for the playoffs, and the defending Western Conference champs play 15 games in 30 days beginning on Monday.
“Over the last three years we've played a lot of hockey and, unfortunately, the guys who could have used this break the most went to the Olympics,” Wings veteran Kris Draper told reporters.
While the Wings have to worry about reincorporating almost half their lineup, the Avs only have a handful of players to welcome back.
Colorado is healthy and in much better position to restart its engine quickly.
Pick: Avalanche