#LGRW Daily: Detroit looks to snap two-game skid on Thursday at Carolina

DETROIT --One pair of brothers playing against each other in an NHL game is an uncommon occurrence. Two sets of brothers squaring off in the same game is especially unique.

That scenario could play out on Thursday, as the Detroit Red Wings (7-15-3) take on the Carolina Hurricanes (15-6-1) at PNC Arena at 7 p.m., to wrap-up a four-game road trip.
Brothers Marc and Jordan Staal -- on Detroit and Carolina, respectively -- have become accustomed to playing against each other after a combined 29 seasons in the NHL. But Thursday's game could bring the first head-to-head matchup at any level for the Svechnikov brothers, Evgeny and Andrei.
Evgeny Svechnikov, 24, has suited up in the last three games for Detroit, tallying a pair of goals and one assist, after starting the season recovering from an injury then joining the team's taxi squad. A first-round pick (19th overall) in 2015, the Red Wings forward has skated in 23 games with Detroit over his four-year professional career but hasn't had an opportunity to play against his younger brother.
Coach Jeff Blashill acknowledged how meaningful Thursday's game could be for the Svechnikov family, especially considering the injury issues that have hindered the early portion of Evgeny Svechnikov's career.
"I think he's a great, great person," Blashill said of Evgeny Svechnikov. "I'm certainly aware of how much it would mean to him. I know how much his family means to him, how much his brother means to him. But in the end, I have to put the 20 out there that I think are the best."

Andrei Svechnikov, 20, was drafted No. 2 overall in the 2018 Draft and is in his third season with the Hurricanes, establishing himself as a premier winger in the NHL with 115 points (41-64-115) in 172 games.
Evgeny and Andrei Svechnikov are extremely close -- talking daily and training together in the offseason. As eager as Evgeny Svechnikov is to play against his brother, he said he's most excited for his parents watching back home in Russia.
"It's been a while waiting for that moment, for that game," the Red Wings forward said. "I just talked to my parents before practice (on Wednesday) and they're super excited. It's going to be a special day, special game.
"I told my dad, 'can you imagine it's been almost 20 years we've been coming to this day?' I'm very proud of my parents, how much they've pulled for us to be in position we are to live our dream. I'm very happy for them and how much they're going to be happy. It's going to be pretty special."

Slowing down Andrei Svechnikov and the Hurricanes power play will be critical for the Red Wings on Thursday. Carolina owns the fourth-best power play in the league (29.6 percent) and has converted with the man advantage five times in its last three games, all of which resulted in wins.
Detroit has also been on a roll with its power play, scoring in three straight games. Blashill said the team's power-play units have looked more confident in the recent stretch.
"Really good power plays, what they do, they score once every four or five times, but they give you momentum four-of-the-five times," Blashill said. "I think that's a huge key. I think the power play looks better. Our guys have executed better."
Thursday's matchup will be the third of eight meetings between the two clubs this season, with Carolina claiming a 3-0 win on Jan. 14 in the season opener for both teams and Detroit earning a split with a 4-2 victory on Jan. 16.
For the second straight game, Detroit will wear its adidas Reverse Retro jerseys on Thursday. Fans can catch all the action on FOX Sports Detroit or 97.1 The Ticket, with puck drop set for 7 p.m.

Red Wings Storylines

• Detroit will be without Dylan Larkin for the fourth straight game with an upper-body injury. Larkin didn't travel with the team on this road trip, but has resumed skating at Little Caesars Arena. Blashill said he hopes the Red Wings' captain will be ready to return against Tampa Bay on March 9.
• Center Luke Glendening had another big night from the faceoff dot on Tuesday, going 20-for-25 on the draw, marking the first time a Red Wings player won 20-plus faceoffs in a game since Pavel Datsyuk went 22-for-29 (75.9 percent) on Nov. 28, 2014 at New Jersey. Glendening continues to lead the league with a 68.4 winning percentage.
• Defenseman Christian Djoos has power-play points in two of his last three games. His power-play marker in Chicago on Feb. 27 broke the Red Wings' 15-game drought with the man advantage. After being claimed on waivers from Washington on Jan. 9, Djoos has recorded six points (2-4-6) in 21 games for the Red Wings.

Scouting the Hurricanes

• Center Vincent Trocheck leads the Hurricanes with 12 goals through 21 games, which is tied for fourth among all NHL skaters. Trocheck, who played youth hockey with Little Caesars and four OHL seasons between Saginaw and Plymouth, enters Thursday on a three-game goal streak and has recorded 15 points (8-7-15) in 22 career games against the Red Wings.
• Forward Sebastian Aho tallied a pair of goals in the Hurricanes' 4-2 win over Nashville on Tuesday and leads the club with 20 points (8-12-20) in 22 games. The Finnish forward has been hot against the Red Wings in his career, tallying 14 points (6-8-14) in 13 games.
• Among league defensemen, Dougie Hamilton sits in the top 20 with 14 points (1-13-14) in 22 games (T16th) and has found the scoresheet in three straight games (0-3-3).