PREVIEW: Red Wings return from All-Star break to host Oilers on Tuesday

DETROIT --After a 10-day hiatus for the 2023 NHL All-Star break, the Detroit Red Wings will return to game action on Tuesday night, hosting the Edmonton Oilers at Little Caesars Arena.

Puck drop between Detroit (21-19-8; 50 points) and Edmonton (28-18-4; 60 points) is set for 7:30 p.m., with TV broadcast coverage airing exclusively on ESPN+ and Hulu. Ken Kal and Paul Woods will have the call on the Red Wings Radio Network (97.1 The Ticket in Detroit). Tuesday's game will also mark Nurse Appreciation Night at Little Caesars Arena, and fans who purchased a special ticket package will receive a limited-edition giveaway item.
Prior to the break, Detroit split a back-to-back road set, outlasting the Montreal Canadiens, 4-3, in overtime on Jan. 27 and dropping a 2-0 decision to the New York Islanders on Jan. 28.
"I didn't mind the way we were playing before the break, having won two of three," Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde said. "Our team game was pretty good. We were limiting goals against and even in our loss, we only gave up two goals. But I think a break at any time is refreshing and probably needed."
As Detroit prepares to open a three-game homestand before departing on its annual Western Canada trip, captain Dylan Larkin is hoping the Red Wings can gain momentum that will ultimately keep Detroit in playoff contention.

The Red Wings currently sit just seven points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second and final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
"I think everyone would tell you that we need to take a step up," said Larkin, who was
named the NHL's Second Star for the week on Monday
after notching five goals and one assist in two games to
help the Atlantic Division win the NHL All-Star Game on Saturday.
"We need more goal scoring, our goalies to stay on their heads and [we need to] collectively win games. We need to start racking them up and get on a streak."
Edmonton currently occupies the first wild card spot in the Western Conference, and cruised into the break on an eight-game point streak after defeating the Chicago Blackhawks, 7-3, on Jan. 28.
Connor McDavid is putting together another Hart Trophy-caliber season, and leads the NHL in both goals (41) and points (92) while ranking second in assists (51). Leon Draisaitl (29-47-76) has eight points in his past five games, while Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner is 13-10-3 this season with a 2.92 goals-against average and .914 save percentage.
"We just cannot give easy offense to their top guys," Lalonde said. "That will be our challenge."

Zadina recalled while Erne assigned to Grand Rapids

On Sunday, the Red Wings recalled Filip Zadina from the Grand Rapids Griffins
and assigned Adam Erne to Detroit's American Hockey League-affiliate.
After Monday's practice, Lalonde said he does not expect Zadina will play against the Oilers, citing how he wants to keep some "synergy we had with the lines before the break."
"He'll get his opportunity to play himself into what you hope he can be or what he's projected to be," Lalonde said. "He started to get a little rhythm in his game before his injury, which was a really tough injury that took him a long time to get back from."

Zadina tallied one goal in two games with Grand Rapids during his conditioning assignment. The former sixth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Zadina appeared in nine games with Detroit this season before suffering a lower-body injury on Nov. 5.
Erne has six goals and eight assists in 43 games with the Red Wings this season.