The Detroit Red Wings will have veteran forward Daniel Alfredsson back in the lineup Friday against the Montreal Canadiens as they attempt to build off a shootout win Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Alfredsson had missed the past six games with a back injury. He has 11 goals and 30 points in 39 games in his first season with the Red Wings. During his career with the Ottawa Senators, he had 31 goals and 105 points in 89 games against the Canadiens.
"It's been really good three days of skating and no issues so I'm ready to go," Alfredsson told MLive.com. "It's always frustrating to be out and now be able to skate like I have and have no issues it feels great actually."
Goalie Jimmy Howard was among the injured Red Wings out skating Friday. Howard said his knee, which needed fluid drained from it, is progressing well. He's targeting Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers as a return date.
The Canadiens, who lost 5-1 at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday, held an optional skate Friday. Carey Price, who was pulled in the second period after allowing all five goals on 21 shots, will be back in net.
"They're a team that has their own unique style. I have a lot of respect for them; that's a team that made the [Stanley Cup] Playoffs for 22 consecutive seasons and that's not easy to do," coach Michel Therrien said of the Red Wings. "That shows what a great job their management and coaching staff is doing over there. It's an accomplishment to make the playoffs the way the League is now and they've managed to consistently earn their spot. They're strong on the puck and they're a fast team. The game tonight will be an important one for us and it won't be an easy one."
Here are the expected lineups for the Canadiens and Red Wings:
CANADIENS
Lars Eller - Tomas Plekanec - Brian Gionta
Max Pacioretty - David Desharnais - Brendan Gallagher
Rene Bourque - Daniel Briere - Brandon Prust
Travis Moen - Michael Bournival - Louis Leblanc
Scratched: Francis Bouillon, Raphael Diaz, George Parros
Injured: Davis Drewiske (shoulder), Alex Galchenyuk (hand), Ryan White (upper body)
RED WINGS
Gustav Nyquist - Henrik Zetterberg - Justin Abdelkader
Tomas Tatar - Riley Sheahan - Tomas Jurco
Daniel Cleary - Darren Helm - Daniel Alfredsson
Drew Miller - Luke Glendening - Patrick Eaves
Niklas Kronwall - Jonathan Ericsson
Scratched: Todd Bertuzzi, Mikael Samuelsson, Jakub Kindl
Injured: Pavel Datsyuk (lower body), Johan Franzen (concussion), Joakim Andersson (lower body), Stephen Weiss (hernia surgery), Jimmy Howard (knee)