The Red Wings have been bleeding defensively lately, allowing 34 goals (3.78 GA/GP) in their last nine games (2-4-3) and have not been helped by their offseason acquisition, John Gibson. The Red Wings brought Gibson in to solidify a shaky goaltending position, but have received more of the same unreliability, posting an ugly 3.62 GAA and .868 SV% in 14 games (5-7-1). He has allowed four or more goals in four straight games (1-2-1).
The Red Wings' goalie rotation will continue on Thursday as Talbot gets the nod in Columbus. Talbot is in the midst of a personal three-game losing streak, including a 3-2 shootout loss in Boston on Saturday when he allowed two goals on 20 shots. The 13-year-veteran's record sits at 9-4-1 on the season to go along with an .888 SV% and 2.88 GAA. Talbot and the Red Wings enter action on Thursday at +105 on the money line.
Rasmussen was limited to only 9:22 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Boston Bruins, leaving the game with an upper-body injury. The 26-year-old forward had three points (2G / 1A) in his last three and should be ready when the Red Wings return to action on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Rasmussen was limited to only 9:22 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Boston Bruins, leaving the game with an upper-body injury. The 26-year-old forward had three points (2G / 1A) in his last three games before his injury.
Bernard-Docker will slot in on Tuesday after sitting out Saturday's game in Boston. Travis Hamonic will sit in his place.
Hamonic will take a seat on Tuesday after drawing into the lineup for Saturday's game in Boston. Jacob Bernard-Docker will play in his place.
JVR will draw back in after sitting out Saturday's game in Boston. JVR has three goals and one assist in 20 games this season.
Appleton has played every game for the Red Wings this season, but will be sidelined for at least a week, beginning with Tuesday's game against the Boston Bruins, because of an undisclosed injury. The 30-year-old Appleton is averaging 13:34 time-on-ice and has nine points (3G / 6A) through 26 games in his first season in Detroit.
The Red Wings have been abysmal defensively lately, outscored 28-12 in their last six games (1-4-1). They have lacked stability between the pipes, especially from John Gibson, who has allowed five goals in three straight games (0-2-1). Still, the 32-year-old Gibson will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins, looking to improve an ugly 3.59 GAA and .865 SV% through 13 games (4-7-1). The Red Wings enter Tuesday's contest as -180 home favorites against an injury-depleted Bruins team that defeated them 3-2 in a shootout on Saturday.
Appleton has played every game for the Red Wings this season, but will be sidelined on Tuesday because of an undisclosed injury. The 30-year-old Appleton is averaging 13:34 time-on-ice and has nine points (3G / 6A) through 26 games in his first season in Detroit.
Talbot allowed five goals on 28 shots in the Red Wings loss to the Predators on Wednesday. After a four-game winning streak, Talbot has lost two in a row while allowing nine goals on 48 shots (.813 SV%). On Saturday, he'll face a Bruins team who will be without David Pastrnak, so Detroit are -140 road favourites.
With Michael Rasmussen returning from a three-game absence due to an injury, Soderblom will be the odd-man out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Soderblom is averaging 10:31 time-on-ice and has one goal in 12 games.
Gustafsson made his Red Wing season debut in Detroit's most recent game and played 17:23 time-on-ice, including some powerplay deployment. The 33-year-old defenseman, an NHL veteran of 516 games, will return to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL, where he has spent the majority of the 2025-26 season.
Bernard-Docker did not play Detroit's most recent game, but he will return to the lineup on Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 25-year-old defenseman has only played 12 games this season, averaging 12:55 time-on-ice and scoring one assist.
Rasmussen has missed the last three game games due to an injury, but he will draw back into the lineup on Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The towering 6'6 forward is averaging 11:39 time-on-ice and has five points (2G / 3A) in 19 games this season.
With the return of Simon Edvinsson (illness), Hamonic will head to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 35-year-old Hamonic has been in-and-out of the lineup all season for the Red Wings. He is averaging 14:26 time-on-ice and has one assist in 15 games.
