PREVIEW: Red Wings aim to continue momentum Monday at Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS – The sample size is very small, but head coach Derek Lalonde is encouraged by what he has seen from the Detroit Red Wings through their first two games of the 2023-24 season.

“Still have a little bad taste in my mouth for not getting a point for how well we played (Oct. 12 at New Jersey),” Lalonde said after Saturday’s 6-4 home-opening victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning. “But you’re playing two elite teams. We knew this was going to be difficult.”

The Red Wings aim to continue the momentum Monday night on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Puck drop between Detroit (1-1-0; 2 points) and Columbus (1-1-0; 2 points) is set for 7 p.m., with TV broadcast coverage on Bally Sports Detroit. Ken Kal and Paul Woods will be joined by reporter Daniella Bruce on the Red Wings Radio Network (97.1 The Ticket in Detroit).

The depth of Detroit’s revamped lineup was on full display Saturday. Alex DeBrincat scored twice and Daniel Sprong, J.T. Compher, Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider each found the back of the net for the Red Wings, who outshot the Lightning, 42-25.

“Throughout a long season, there’s going to be times where we are going to have to find offense,” Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said. “It just naturally happens. But to have the depth that we do - and we talked a lot about that through the preseason, training camp and summer - it’s a real thing. You are seeing it early. There are going to be challenging times. I’m excited to see how we respond when those times come.”

Larkin knows not every game this season will match the intensity and emotion of Saturday’s home opener. That’s why self-motivation will be key to building and sustaining a winning model of hockey, according to Larkin.

“It’s on the individual,” Larkin said. “It’s your inner drive and how much you want it every night. We have guys in there who want it. Good-character guys who do the little things that don’t end up on the scoresheet but end up in wins.”

Columbus’ first-year head coach Pascal Vincent earned his first NHL win Saturday, guiding the Blue Jackets to a 5-3 victory over the New York Rangers. Boone Jenner scored a natural hat trick, while Columbus goalies Elvis Merzlikins and Spencer Martin combined for 29 saves.

Last season, the Blue Jackets lost a franchise-record 563-man games due to injuries and finished eighth in the Metropolitan Division with a 25-48-9 (59 points) overall record.

Lalonde provides lineup updates following Monday's morning skate

Robby Fabbri (undisclosed) was on the ice for Monday's morning skate at Nationwide Arena, but Lalonde said the 27-year-old forward will not play against Columbus.

"He's not available tonight," Lalonde said about Fabbri. "He's close. We're hoping for Wednesday. Still in that day-to-day window."

Lalonde also said veteran netminder James Reimer will make his first start with the Red Wings on Monday.

"Hopefully (Reimer) can roll over from where he was in exhibition," Lalonde said. "Just give us a chance when he's in there and hopefully he can do that tonight."

Last season, Reimer posted a 12-21-8 record, 3.48 goals-against average and .890 save percentage in 43 games for the San Jose Sharks.

Austin Czarnik, who was recalled from the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins on Sunday, will be in Detroit's lineup while Jeff Petry will be a healthy scratch against the Blue Jackets, according to Lalonde.