PREVIEW: Red Wings want to bring high energy level Thursday against Senators in NHL Global Series opener

STOCKHOLM – After four days of preparation, the Detroit Red Wings will play their first game at the 2023 NHL Global Series in Sweden Thursday night, squaring off against the Ottawa Senators at Avicii Arena.

Puck drop between Detroit (8-5-2; 18 points) and Ottawa (6-7-0; 12 points) is set for 2 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CET, with TV broadcast coverage on Bally Sports Detroit and the NHL Network. Longtime Grand Rapids Griffins announcer Bob Kaser will fill in for Ken Kal, joining Paul Woods and Daniella Bruce on the Red Wings Radio Network (97.1 The Ticket in Detroit).

"A game like this, it just feels like there is so much around it," Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde said after Thursday's morning skate. "It's an entire week buildup to it. I think it would be easy to be caught up in the emotions. We want to those emotions to play that way, but we also want to manage our emotions."

The Red Wings have relished their time in Stockholm since arriving on Sunday afternoon, balancing a practice and sleep schedule with team-bonding activities. Andrew Copp said Wednesday’s practice was an important session for Detroit, which will also play the Toronto Maple Leafs Friday at 2 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CET.

“When we’re skating, moving and playing on our toes is when we’re at our best,” Copp said Wednesday. “I think that’s kind of the message we tried to relay throughout practice, was just getting on your toes and skating. If you have easy practices, you’re not going to be ready to play (Thursday).”

Detroit is looking to replicate its effort from a 5-2 road victory against Ottawa on Oct. 21, when the Red Wings finished 3-for-5 on the power play.

“Throughout that game, we saw that our speed gave them problems,” Copp said. “It gives anybody problems when a team is playing fast. We were able to draw a lot of power plays and a lot of quick puck movement on the power play, which is what led to all those power-play goals.”

Lalonde said Austin Czarnik (undisclosed injury) will not play against the Senators.

"We hope he will be available for us (Friday)," Lalonde said about Czarnik, who has missed one game since exiting in the third period of Detroit's contest against the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 10.

Ottawa currently sits in eighth place in the Atlantic Division and are coming off a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Saturday. Tim Stützle leads the club with 17 points on three goals and 14 assists, while Claude Giroux (five goals, 10 assists) and Brady Tkachuk (eight goals, four assists) have combined for 27 points. Goalie Joonas Korpisalo has seen the most time between the pipes this season, posting a 4-4-0 record with a 3.11 goals-against average and .907 save percentage.

“They’re big and heavy,” Lalonde said of the Senators. “They have a top line that can be dominant. You can just tell they’re a talented group. You can see they’re really good in every position, play with pace and are a really tough up and down the lineup-type team.”