As usual, the Red Wings are led by one of the best all-around players in the game in Pavel Datsyuk, who even at age 33 continues to produce at a high level and dazzle with shootout moves and brilliant takeaways. He’s had an excellent career against Columbus, collecting 19-39-58 in 48 career games with a +23 rating. Riding shotgun with Datsyuk is the man they call “The Mule,” Johan Franzen. The big Swede has 18 goals on the year to lead Detroit and always finds a way to score goals at the right time. The Blue Jackets will try to use their checking line anchored by Sammy Pahlsson as often as possible against Datsyuk and Franzen, but with the Red Wings playing at home, Columbus won’t have the last line change.

The Blue Jackets’ play at even strength has been their calling card of late, and tonight they face the league’s second-best club at 5-on-5. Detroit’s even-strength goals scored for/against ratio ranks second only to the defending champion Boston Bruins, and the Red Wings’ fifth-ranked offense has clearly been dangerous on even terms this season.

Detroit and Columbus last met on Oct. 25 at Nationwide Arena, four days after the Red Wings earned a 5-2 win in the series opener in the Motor City. The Blue Jackets were seeking their first win of the season in that game, and got first career goals from both Ryan Johansen and John Moore in a 4-1 win.

Tonight’s game will be an intriguing matchup because both clubs are in markedly different positions than they were three months ago. The Blue Jackets have good memories in Joe Louis Arena, though – including an 8-2 drubbing of the Red Wings in March of 2009 and a 3-0 victory last year.

G	Nash (16)	Franzen (18)
A	Prospal (21)	Datsyuk (38)
PTS	Nash (32)	Datsyuk (51)
PIM	Dorsett (109)	Ericsson (39)
+/-	MacKenzie (+7)	Franzen, White(+26)
W/L	Sanford (8-10-3)	Howard (28-10-1)
GAA	Sanford (2.54)	Howard (1.98)
SVP	Sanford (.912)	Howard (.926)