Kronwall, Zidlicky out; Kindl, Marchenko in for Game 7

Red Wings enter Game 7 with depleted blueline

Niklas Kronwall is suspended and Marek Zidlicky is out with an injury.

Story: Kronwall suspended 1 game for charging

The Detroit Red Wings will play Game 7 Wednesday night in Tampa without two of their more experienced defenseman. Jakub Kindl and rookie Alexey Marchenko will play in their place.

Kindl has had some playoff success

Kindl was part of the Red Wings team which upset the Anaheim Ducks in seven games in the 1st round of the 2013 playoffs. The Wings fell to the Chicago Blackhawks in seven games the following series.

In those 14 games, Kindl scored a goal and tallied 4 assists. A rookie at the time, he finished the playoffs with a respectable +4 rating. However, like most of his teammates, his 2014 playoffs campaign is a forgettable one. Kindl didn't register a point in four games against the Boston Bruins and finished the series with a -2 rating.

When it was announced Kronwall would miss Game 7 due to suspension, Kindl appeared to be first in line, ahead of Marchenko, for the position. The 28-year-old Czech defenseman can add an offensive edge to the Red Wings' blueline. He's also played in two game 7s. This isn't new territory for him.

Look for him to be paired up with Jonathan Ericsson.

Marchenko gets 2nd chance

Marchenko played the first two games in this opening-round series against the Lightning. Those were the first two playoff games of his very short NHL career. He didn't register a shot on net and was on the ice for enough goals against to put him at a -3 rating.

Coach Mike Babcock opted to remove him from the lineup for the slightly more experienced Brendan Smith, who had been healthy scratched since causing a bench minor at the end of the regular season in Montreal.

Marchenko is one of two righthanded Red Wings defenseman, the other being Zidlicky. The Russian is just 23 years old. He appeared in just 13 games with the Red Wings this season (1 goal, 1 assist, +1).

Before this year, the last time Marchenko was in a playoff game was 2013 in the KHL.

With the Red Wings' depleted blueline, Marchenko has a second chance to perform. Look for him to be paired up with Smith.

Game 7 is 7:30 p.m. in Tampa.

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