Music: {allcanada} Detroit (25-10-5) at Calgary (18-20-3)

Thursday, January 6, 2011

{allcanada} Detroit (25-10-5) at Calgary (18-20-3)

Game info: 9:00 pm EST Fri Jan 7, 2011
TV: FSD, RSW

Nicklas Lidstrom (notes) and Henrik Zetterberg (notes) continued impressive scoring streaks in the Detroit Red Wings' most recent victory, helping boost production despite the absence of Pavel Datsyuk (notes).

They'll look to keep a more important streak alive against the Calgary Flames on Friday night when visiting Detroit shoots for a season sweep of its Western Conference foe.

Zetterberg scored his 15th goal and Lidstrom added two assists in Detroit's 5-3 win Tuesday against Edmonton, as each extended their respective scoring runs to eight games. The Red Wings are 5-2-1 since Datsyuk was sidelined Dec. 22 with a broken hand.

Todd Bertuzzi (notes) scored twice to help Detroit (25-10-5) extend its Central Division lead to 10 points after the Oilers rallied from a two-goal deficit to tie it in the third period.

"I thought we responded very well (after Edmonton tied it), scoring the two goals," coach Mike Babcock said. "We're getting contributions from everybody right now and we need it when we are short-staffed."

The Red Wings are tied for the most victories and have the best winning percentage on the road in the conference, having won a season-high four straight away from home.

"Every game you have to try and take some positives," said Chris Osgood (notes), who made 25 saves against the Oilers. "We are playing well on the road."

Detroit last won five straight road games from March 3-20, 2009, and will look to match that streak with another victory against Calgary.

The Flames (18-20-3) have dropped all three meetings against the Red Wings this season, last falling 5-4 on Lidstrom's overtime goal Nov. 21.

Calgary has lost two straight after a season-high four-game winning streak, losing 3-1 on Wednesday in Vancouver despite outshooting the Canucks 44-21.

Miikka Kiprusoff (notes) made 18 saves, but coach Brent Sutter was critical of his goaltender following the game.

"We held a very good hockey team to 20 shots against and I wasn't very happy with their last two goals they scored on us," Sutter said.

Kiprusoff was in net for all three losses to Detroit, going 0-2-1 with a 3.65 goals-against average. With Kiprusoff's struggles against Detroit and the recent loss to Vancouver, Sutter may be inclined to start rookie Henrik Karlsson (notes) in his place. Karlsson is 2-3-2 with a 2.74 GAA.

Jarome Iginla (notes) hasn't scored in three games, but he had two goals and an assist against the last meeting with the Red Wings. Rene Bourque (notes), who is second on the team with 13 goals, has only one goal and one assist in his last 13 games combined.

Lidstrom has two goals and three assists in this season's three victories for Detroit, which has won four straight overall in the series. Jimmy Howard (notes) was in net for all four victories, posting a 2.00 GAA.