We’ll never know if Wednesday’s win over the New York Islanders saved Derek Lalonde’s job or not, because that’s not how the Red Wings work.

After all, General Manager Steve Yzerman was just beginning his Hall-of-Fame career the last time the Red Wongs made a midseason coaching change. almost 40 years ago.

One thing you can count on: Rumors about it Sergei Fedorov would be the next Detroit coach is just that, as Bob Duff reports.

The Boston Bruins don’t work that way, shoot Jim Montgomery this week after a slow start.

Here’s another difference between the franchises: When Boston fired Montgomery, the Bruins were 8-9-3. The Red Wings are 8-9-2.

Montgomery was in the final year of his contract, which could have been a factor, but the Bruins performed poorly and the move was made.

The Bruins ended a three-game losing streak with a win over Utah on Thursday, just as the Wings did when they knocked off the Islanders on Wednesday.

So a pair of teams desperate to turn their seasons around meet tonight in another game that both teams need to get their seasons back on track.

The matchup

WHO: Boston in Detroit

Where: Little Caesars Arena

When: 19.00

TV/Radio: FDSN/97.1 FM

Detroit Lines

Tarasenko-Larkin-Raymond

DeBrincat-Kasper-Kane

Rasmussen-Copp-Fischer

Berggren-Compher-Motte

Defensive pairings

Edvinsson-Seider

Chiarot-Petry

Gustafsson-Holl/Johansson

Goalkeepers

Talbot-Lyon

Boston Lines

Defensive pairings

Goalkeepers