The Detroit Red Wings will try to post back-to-back wins
for the first time in over three weeks when they welcome the Boston Bruins for
tonight's Original Six battle at Joe Louis Arena.
The Red Wings have won two of their last three games, but last year's Western
Conference champions haven't notched consecutive victories since downing
Chicago and Washington on October 8 and 10, respectively.
Detroit rebounded from Thursday's shootout loss in Edmonton by posting a road
win over Calgary two days later. Saturday's victory over the Flames allowed
the Red Wings to complete a five-game road trip with a 2-1-2 record.
Chris Osgood made 20 saves, and Tomas Holmstrom's team-leading seventh goal of
the season proved to be the game-winner, as Detroit beat the Flames, 3-1, at
the Saddledome.
Brad Stuart and Kirk Maltby also scored for the Red Wings.
Detroit is playing the first of two straight at home tonight and is playing
six of eight in the Motor City to begin the month of November. The Red Wings
are 3-1-1 as the host this year.
Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson is questionable for tonight's test
after missing Saturday's game with flu-like symptoms. Ericsson has three goals
and five assists on the year and had recorded a point in three straight games
prior to sitting out Detroit's last contest.
The Bruins have still yet to get any kind of momentum going this year, as they
have alternated losses and wins since the start of the campaign. Last year's
top seed in the Eastern Conference is just 6-6-1 on the season and is
currently fourth in the Northeast Division with just 13 points.
Boston posted a 2-0 win over visiting Edmonton on Saturday, but was blanked
the following day in a road test against the New York Rangers. Henrik
Lundqvist stopped all 29 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season as
the Rangers skated to a 1-0 decision at Madison Square Garden.
Tim Thomas made 22 saves in the loss for the Bruins, who were trying to post
back-to-back wins for the first time since a six-game winning streak from
March 22-April 4 of last season.
Bruins forward Byron Bitz missed Sunday's game with a groin injury and is
questionable for this evening's tilt.
Boston is 2-2-1 as the guest this year and is capping a brief two-game road
trip tonight. The Bruins will begin a four-game homestand Thursday against
Montreal.
The Bruins earned a 4-1 home win over Detroit in the only meeting between the
clubs in 2008-09 and Boston has taken four of five and six of nine overall in
the series. The B's have also come out on top in two straight and three of
their last four trips to the Joe.
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