Preview: Red Wings host Blackhawks Wednesday night on TNT

DETROIT -- For the third time in January, the Detroit Red Wings have gone three days without playing a game. It's a scheduling quirk they'll want to get used to.
The Red Wings have been idle since last Saturday, but will resume action Wednesday night against the Chicago Blackhawks. Puck drop from Little Caesars Arena is set for 7:30 p.m., and will be broadcast nationally on TNT. Ken Kal and Paul Woods will have the call on the Red Wings Radio Network.

Detroit has a chance to wrap up the month of January on a high note, with three of its remaining four games at home. Then, the unique month of February is on the horizon, with just seven games on the schedule. The whole league will take a break from Feb. 3-6 for the 2022 NHL All-Star Weekend, where captain Dylan Larkin will represent the Red Wings.
Despite back-to-back losses, including a heartbreaker against Dallas the last time Detroit played at home, spirits remain high in the Red Wings dressing room, according to former Chicago Blackhawk Pius Suter.
"It's still positive. It's a tough stretch, a lot of games," Suter said. "We had a few tough games, but then the good thing is, we play right away again. We don't have too much time to think about it, and get the small details right so we can go out with more points."

The Red Wings and Blackhawks are going head-to-head just twice per season these days, but the energy remains palpable when they do take the ice. Chicago has lost four straight games in regulation after putting together an impressive four-game winning streak in which it gave up just five goals.
The Hawks (15-20-7) are currently in seventh place in the Western Conference's Central Division, four points (37) shy of Winnipeg. Leading scorer Patrick Kane (nine goals, 27 assists) and Farmington Hills, Mich., native Alex DeBrincat have both crossed the 30-point threshold this season, and newcomer Seth Jones has tallied 23 assists. In goal, Marc-Andre Fleury has started 29 games with a save percentage of .913.
The first installment of this season's series between Detroit and Chicago was a memorable one for Lucas Raymond, one of the NHL's top rookies.
On Oct. 24 at the United Center, Raymond
recorded his first career hat trick
in leading the Red Wings to a 6-3 win. He scored in all three periods, bolstering what was a dominant effort from Detroit's then top line. Tyler Bertuzzi added a goal and two assists, while Larkin tallied three assists.
Raymond continues to lead all NHL rookies with 33 points this season, while ranking second in both goals (11) and assists (22). His rookie linemate, defenseman Moritz Seider, paces all league rookies with 23 assists.

Harold Washington Jr. to attend Wednesday's game, be featured on "Welcome to Hockeytown"

Harold Washington Jr., a 10-year-old member of the Detroit Red Wings Learn, Play, Score program, will attend his first Red Wings game on Wednesday. Washington, a Detroit native, appeared on ESPN2 for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, and
announced Detroit's first round selection
(Swedish defenseman Simon Edvinsson) alongside Executive Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman.
Washington will be featured on an upcoming episode of "Welcome to Hockeytown," a content series that documents fans getting the opportunity to attend a Red Wings game for the first time.

Windy City ties

Red Wings defenseman Nick Leddy was a 2013 Stanley Cup champion with Chicago and tallied 93 points (20-73-93) in 258 games played with the club from 2010-14 … Suter appeared in 55 games for the Hawks last season, and tallied 27 points among 14 goals and 13 assists … Blackhawks interim head coach Derek King had 203 points (73-130-203) in 264 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins from 1999-01 and 2002-04, serving as a player-assistant coach in his second stint with the club.