The set-up: The Calgary Flames are 7-11-1 to open the current season and head to Detroit Sunday night to take on 8-9-1 Red Wings. Both teams are struggling with each coming off one-goal losses. The Flames dropped a 3-2 decision to the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night in Calgary, while the Red Wings lost 1-0 to the Capitals in Washington on Friday night, giving them a 2-7-1 record in their past 10 games.

Calgary: Sam Bennett was moved from center to wing, joining Sean Monahan and Troy Brouwer on the top line. That unit unit produced both goals against the Blackhawks on Friday. However, the Flames are averaging just 2.26 GPG on the season and that drops to 1.89 GPG in the team's nine road games, so far. Michael Frolik (12) is the only active player with double-digit points for the Flames (star forward Johnny Gaudreau, who miss 6-to-8 weeks because of a broken finger on his right hand suffered in the 1-0 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday, has 11), while defenseman T.J. Brodie has only three points and has a minus-11 rating (he registered a career-high 45 points last season).

Detroit: The absence of left winger Thomas Vanek, who missed the past 11 games with a hip strain, has seen the Red Wings go 3-7-1 without him. Detroit only averaged 1.64 goals per game in that span, getting shut out three times and only going 5-for-40 on the power play. Vanek is expected to return to the lineup on Sunday and he'll be a welcome sight. "He's a big player for us," Justin Abdelkader said. "Obviously, he got off to that great start. It was tough to see him go down with injury. He'll come in and bring a veteran presence. He's really strong on the puck and he's got a great shot."

The pick: Expect the Red Wings to be buoyed by Vanek's return and note that Calgary has lost five of its last seven games overall, scoring only nine goals in the process (remember, Calgary's averaging just 1.89 goals on the road!). The home team gets the win here and I'll make Detroit an 8* play.