Most of the attention in Detroit is going to the Detroit Lions as they prepare to face off against the Packers tonight, but they are not the only franchise representing the 313 area code going to battle in a division rivalry game this evening… The Detroit Red Wings will drop the puck tonight in their most important game of the season so far.

The Red Wings will play the Ottawa Senators for the first time this season. The two teams have played with extra physicality in recent meetings, and it has sparked an intense rivalry. There is even more bad blood between Detroit and Ottawa after the scary incident last season involving Matheiu Joseph of the Senators and Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin. The Sens play rough, and the Wings haven’t shown the physicality to match that, but it could change tonight in Ottawa because the team is desperate for points towards a playoff berth. In fact, both teams are feeling desperate for a streak of success.

Detroit and Ottawa’s struggles will almost certainly add fuel to the fire and could ignite an intense night on the ice. The Red Wings are 10-11-4 with 24 points and are 3-4-3 in their last 10 games. The Senators are breathing down Detroit’s neck as they are 10-12-2 this season with 22 points and have a 3-5-2 record in their last 10 games. Only the Montreal Canadiens have had a worse start to the season in the division with a 9-13-3 record and 21 points earned.

Joseph, who delivered the dirty hit on Larkin last season, is no longer part of the Sens organization, but Ottawa’s captain Brady Tkachuk has been throwing gasoline on the fire in this heated rivalry for two years and will be a player to watch tonight. Former Red Wing David Perron, who wore the winged wheel as recently as April, has dealt with issues on and off the ice this season in his first year in Ottawa. It is unclear if he will play, as he has missed four games in a row due to injury. A Dylan Larkin revenge game could be looming, and you also have to keep an eye on Alex DeBrincat, who was traded from Ottawa to Detroit last season.

Puck drop is set for just after 7 PM.