Detroit City Wire

The Detroit Red Wings are set to honor Pavel Datsyuk during their match against the New York Islanders at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday. This event, named Pavel Datsyuk Hockey Hall of Fame Night, coincides with a game between two teams that are close in the standings. Detroit holds a 7-9-2 record while New York stands at 7-7-5.

Fans attending the game have an incentive to arrive early, as the first 5,000 will receive a commemorative coin celebrating Datsyuk. The "Magic Man," as he was affectionately known, spent his entire 14-year NHL career with the Red Wings and is celebrated for his numerous accolades, including two Stanley Cup wins and multiple trophies for sportsmanship and defensive prowess.

Patrick Kane shared memories of playing against Datsyuk during intense Chicago-Detroit rivalries. Dylan Larkin recalled learning from Datsyuk when they played together in the latter's final season.

The Red Wings aim to end a three-game winless streak after a recent overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks. J.T. Compher expressed optimism about turning things around during their current homestand.

Meanwhile, the Islanders began their road trip with a shootout loss to Calgary Flames. They look forward to improving their standing within the Metropolitan Division where they currently rank fifth.

This marks the second meeting this season between these Eastern Conference rivals; Detroit previously secured a victory over New York in October.

Detroit's head coach Derek Lalonde acknowledged signs of quality play from his team but emphasized the need for consistency. "We have an opportunity [on Thursday] against a team that we’ve beaten once already this year," he said.