BIG AL's RED-HOT NHL SLAPSHOT CLUB (74-42 RUN)!

At 7:05 pm, our selection is on the Chicago Blackhawks over the Detroit Red Wings.  The Capitals had been coveting the Red Wings most talented forward, Anthony Mantha, for some time and on the final day of the trade deadline, Washington worked a deal for the 6' 5", 240 lb winger.  Detroit got two nice players in Richard Panik and Jakub Vrana, but the two of them together don't add to what Mantha brought to the ice on a nightly basis.  But the Wings also let go several defensemen before the deadline and in the long run that could have a bigger impact than the loss of Mantha.  They face a Blackhawks team tonight that looks like it will be fighting for a playoff spot right down to the wire.  The Hawks are in fifth place in the Central -- one point ahead of the Stars -- and they hope to pick up two points tonight in a revenge situation, as the Wings prevailed on Thursday, 4-1.  The Hawks are 9-3 in the last 12 meetings, and 4-2 in the last six here in Detroit.  Meanwhile, the Wings are a poor 5-15 in their last 20 after allowing one goal or less in their previous game.  Take Chicago.  As always, good luck...Al McMordie.