Tomas Kopecky is the odd man out of the lineup today for the Winter Classic. With Nicklas Lidstrom (ankle) returning from a two-game absence and Chicago icon Chris Chelios in the lineup, the Red Wings are going with seven defensemen and just 11 forwards. This will be the first game that Kopecky has missed this season.

Going with seven defensemen is obviously a way to get both Chicago guys, Chelios and Brett Lebda, in the lineup. But it's also a tribute to Andreas Lilja that he has become the type of player you don't want out of the lineup even for one game.