Once a high-powered offensive juggernaut, the Red Wings
have used defense to put together their first three-game winning streak of the
season.
Detroit hopes to shut down the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs tonight in an
Original Six matchup at Air Canada Centre.
The Red Wings have outscored their opponents, 7-2, over their winning streak
and held the dangerous Sharks to just a goal in Thursday's 2-1 victory.
Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk scored in the shootout, while Zetterberg
also tallied a third-period goal to force the extra time.
Chris Osgood has been in net for all three wins, and halted 33 shots and both
shootout skaters versus San Jose.
"That's three games in a row [Osgood] can feel real good about himself," said
Detroit head coach Mike Babcock. "It's important to get on a roll and feel
good about yourself and how you play. We're playing well in front of him, but
he's really battling and making saves."
After some early-season hiccups, Osgood is now 6-2-2 on the season with a 2.54
goals-against average and .910 save percentage.
Red Wings defensemen Brian Rafalski and Jonathan Ericsson both returned to the
lineup after missing Tuesday's win over Boston with flu-like symptoms.
Offensively, Detroit remains without Valtteri Filppula (wrist) and Johan
Franzen (knee).
Detroit plays the first of back-to-back road games tonight and is 2-3-2 as the
guest this year.
The Maple Leafs are just 2-7-5 on the season, but are coming off their second
win, a 3-2 triumph over the Hurricanes on Friday night. Toronto fell behind by
two goals in the first period, but netted the next three. That includes the
game-winner out of Jason Blake in the third period.
Nikolai Kulemin and John Mitchell each had a goal while Jonas Gustavsson made
34 saves for the Maple Leafs, who have a point in six straight games (2-0-4).
"We have to get mad at some point," said Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson. "I
said to the team, 'We've only got one win in 13 games, when is somebody going
to get upset?'"
Toronto is still seeking its first home win of 2009-10, as it is 0-4-2 at Air
Canada Centre this year.
The Maple Leafs have won their last two meetings with the Red Wings, winning a
3-2 decision in Detroit last year. They claimed a 3-2 overtime victory at home
over the Red Wings on February 9, 2008.
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