Red Wings vs. Wild

Detroit -280 vs. Minnesota

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A late-January slump where they had trouble scoring is clearly in the Detroit Red Wings rear-view mirror. During their current three-game winning streak, Detroit has not scored less than three goals, and in that game, against Pittsburgh, they won by three goals. The Red Wings will try to continue their offensive fireworks when they face off with Minnesota in Detroit Thursday night.

Since a season-high five-game losing streak, in which they averaged 2.8 goals, Detroit (36-11-7) has been red-hot. They have averaged five goals per game, including a season-high eight goals against Edmonton on February 7th. Their defense has also stepped up, allowing 13 total goals during that same span.

Their most recent fireworks came at Nashville with a 5-3 victory, which saw the Red Wings pepper the Predators with a season-high 51 shots on goal. Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk each lit the lamp twice, while Marian Hossa added the other goal.

The return of Zetterberg also sparked the return of the Red Wings. He was shelved during their five-game losing streak, but has returned and scored three goals and an assist and has at least one point in four straight contests.

Thursdays opponents, the Wild (28-22-3) have it doubly bad. Not only is Zetterberg hot against the rest of the NHL, he has clearly had their number over the years. He has six goals and four assists in the last seven games against Minnesota. He is even more dominant over them at Joe Louis Arena, scoring six goals in the last four games against the Wild there, including a December 2007 hat trick.

The Wild may give the Wings their biggest defensive test in awhile. Minnesota has won four of their last five, largely because of a solid defense. During those games, they have given up a total of nine goals.

Wednesday, Antti Miettinen broke a two-all tie with 1:11 remaining to give the Wild a 3-2 home victory over Colorado. Niklas Backstrom stopped 20 shots and recorded his 27th victory of the year.

A win over Detroit would give Minnesota their first three-game winning streak since November, but that will be a tall order against a Red Wings team that has dominated them. The teams met earlier this season in St. Paul and the result was a 3-2 shootout victory for Detroit. The Wings are 9-0-2 in their last 11 meetings with the Wild and have not lost in regulation since a home 4-2 loss in January 2006.

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