PREVIEW: Faulk expected to make Red Wings debut in New Jersey on Sunday

NEWARK, N.J. -- Along with beginning a four-game, eight-day road trip, the Detroit Red Wings are expected to see 2026 NHL Trade deadline acquisition Justin Faulk don the Winged Wheel for the first time when they battle the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Sunday night.

“We’re going to have to figure out how comfortable he’ll be in playing with certain partners,” Detroit head coach Todd McLellan said of the 33-year-old defenseman. “We may think, ‘Okay, he’ll fit real good with Ben Chiarot.’ That is the plan a little bit, is to put him there and get your four guys rolling out, but we have to pay attention to who he’s playing well with and how the chemistry goes with his partner.”

Puck drop for Sunday’s nationally televised (ESPN) Eastern Conference matchup between Detroit (35-21-7; 77 points) and New Jersey (32-29-2; 66 points) is set for 7 p.m. Fans can also tune into 97.1 The Ticket, the Red Wings’ flagship radio station. The Red Wings came up just short in the first meeting of the three-game season series against the Devils, a 4-3 loss at Prudential Center back on Nov. 24.

In its two-game homestand finale, a 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers at Little Caesars Arena on Friday, Detroit cashed in at the front end of a 5-on-3 power play to tie things up at one apiece midway through the second period before allowing two unanswered final-frame goals.

“I think we have to be sharp all over,” McLellan said. “The opening game of the two against Vegas -- a good start, we’re playing then we get a little bit hesitant in the game and suddenly it comes back to bite you. We kept that team to one goal with eight minutes left, then they earned it. [Against Florida], we are very sloppy on one play and when you’re not scoring enough, and the chances aren’t going in for you as regularly as you’d like them to be, that type of mistake has to be eliminated. So, we got to clean everything up.”  

During Saturday afternoon’s practice at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center, prospect Michael Brandsegg-Nygard skated and recently re-acquired David Perron (sports hernia) did too but in a non-contact jersey while captain Dylan Larkin (lower body) and Lucas Raymond (maintenance day) both didn’t participate.

“Larks won’t play [on Sunday],” McLellan said of the 29-year-old captain, who will travel with the team on this trip. “He’ll need some time to recover. I can’t give you a timeline on that right now, but he will be out.”

Acquired via trade from the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, Perron will also be with the Red Wings on the road this week.

“It feels pretty seamless walking in,” Perron said. “The guys are very welcoming, and it’s exciting. They’re in a good spot too and have done a hell of a job to put themselves in this situation. We want to keep improving on it.”

As far as Brandsegg-Nygard, who was recalled from the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions on Saturday morning, he confirmed that Detroit’s coaching staff told him he’ll be in the lineup versus the Devils. The 20-year-old forward appeared in nine games with the Red Wings to begin this season before going on to record 37 points (16 goals, 21 assists) in 50 contests for the Griffins.

“I feel like I’ve grown in the North American style of hockey with how many games I’ve had this season,” Brandsegg-Nygard said. “I’m still trying to learn that, but I feel like I’m getting used to it.”

New Jersey, following both Florida and Vegas, will be Detroit’s third consecutive opponent skating in the second half of a back-to-back set. Currently nine points behind the Boston Bruins for the Eastern Conference’s second Wild-Card spot, the Devils extended their winning streak to four straight games with a 6-3 victory over the visiting New York Rangers on Saturday.

At the top of New Jersey’s points leaderboard sits Jesper Bratt with 48 (14 goals, 34 assists), captain Nico Hischier with 46 (21 goals, 25 assists) and Jack Hughes with 45 (15 goals, 30 assists). After netminder Jacob Markstrom made 20 saves on Saturday, fellow goalie Jake Allen will likely start for the Devils on Sunday.