Red Wings vs. Sharks

Detroit -135 vs. San Jose

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The chaser and the chasee meet up for the fourth in final time, this time in Joe Louis Arena when the chaser Red Wings meet up with the chasee Sharks on Wednesday.

But perhaps those roles should be reversed. While Detroit has been trying to catch San Jose for the Western Conference lead all season long, the Red Wings are the standard bearer in the league and a team in which the Sharks have been trying to beat and emulate for a number of years. Detroit eliminated the San Jose from the postseason in 2006-07 and after having a similar fate last season, the Sharks went out and hired one of the Red Wings to attempt to lead them into the promise land.

After firing Ron Wilson following the teams defeat once again in the semi-finals, this time to Dallas, the team looked for a change. As they saw Detroit hoist the Stanley Cup for an fourth time in 11 years, San Jose knew what they needed to do. They brought in Red Wings assistant Todd McLellan and hoped he brought some magic with him. He seemingly has, as San Jose has been at the top of the Western Conference all season long and lead Detroit by five points and San Jose has played two less games. The Red Wings have been the top team in the West for five straight years.

The Red Wings (39-13-8) closed within a point of the Sharks (41-8-9) a few weeks ago, but have not played their best hockey. Following a six-game winning streak, Detroit has gone 2-2-1 over their last five, including a 5-2 loss in Minnesota on Saturday.

After struggling in net, the Red Wings decided to sit Chris Osgood for a few games to rest and rejuvenate before the stretch run and postseason. Jimmy Howard was called up to the team and started his seventh career game of his career and got behind the eight-ball by allowing two goals in the first 8:15. He did not get help from the leagues best power play as they went 0-for-5.

Osgood is still on his mental health vacation until Friday, so they will go with Ty Conklin in goal. Conklin beat San Jose in Detroit 6-0 on December 18th, for the only victory for the Red Wings in three games against the Sharks this season.

The Sharks have been able to capitalize on the Red Wings gaffs recently to put some distance between them. They won their fourth straight as Evgeni Nabokov recorded his fifth shutout of the season Monday when the Sharks won 1-0 in overtime at Dallas.

San Jose has won three of the last four meetings and have split their last four games at the Joe Louis Arena.

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