Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Up next for the Detroit Red Wings: a makeup.

The Wings play the second game of their three-in-three-days run when they take on the Carolina Hurricanes tonight (7, FS-Plus). This game, originally scheduled for Dec. 19, had to be postponed because the ice at PNC Arena was not at the proper temperature. The Wings agreed to play today because it meant no extra travel, as they already had a game here scheduled for Tuesday.

It means that the Wings are playing four times in five days (Friday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday) and five times in seven days (this trip concludes Thursday at Tampa Bay).

Petr Mrazek is up in the goalie rotation. Defenseman Dan Renouf, who was called up Sunday, will make his NHL debut because Niklas Kronwall’s knee prohibits him from playing three straight days. It will be interesting to see whether veteran captain Henrik Zetterberg plays all three games -- if not, it means he won’t reach 1,000 career games by the end of this season (he’s at 992 with eight games left). Jeff Blashill said after the morning skate that the plan is to play Zetterberg all three games.

Robbie Russo will take Kronwall's spot on Zetterberg's power-play unit.

Forward Darren Helm was part of an optional morning skate. He wasn't certain whether he will play tonight (he has missed four games with a knee injury) but he sounded like it is a good possibility.

The Wings are 4-1-1 in their last six games, with points in three straight. They remain mathematically alive in the playoff race, but a couple of losses on this trip would seal their fate of missing the playoffs for the first time in 26 seasons.

Rest, nutrition are key as Red Wings play three games in three days

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.