Sharks at Red Wings
The San Jose Sharks attempt to avoid a fourth consecutive loss Wednesday as they continue their five-game road trip against the Detroit Red Wings. The Sharks began their trek Tuesday with a 5-2 setback at Pittsburgh that dropped them to 0-2-1 in their last three overall and allowed Anaheim along with Los Angeles to pull even with them in points for second place in the Pacific Division.
All-Star defenseman Brent Burns scored for San Jose in the defeat to end his nine-game drought and raise his team-leading total to 42 points - nine of which have been recorded during his seven-game streak. Detroit looks to remain in the playoff race as it returns from the All-Star break to conclude its three-game homestand. The Red Wings, who are 10 points out of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, lost the first two contests of the string and are 0-4-1 at Little Caesars Arena since defeating Florida on Jan. 5. Anthony Mantha scored his team-leading 16th goal in Thursday's 5-1 setback against Chicago and is one shy of the career high he set last season.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS California (San Jose), FS Detroit
ABOUT THE SHARKS (26-16-7): Burns recorded at least one point in 20 of his last 23 games and has not been kept off the scoresheet in consecutive contests since Dec. 2 and 4. Logan Couture scored San Jose's other goal against the Penguins, which was the 200th of his career and fourth during his three-game streak. Defenseman Dylan DeMelo skated in his 100th NHL game on Tuesday and forward Kevin Labanc will reach the plateau with his next appearance.
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (19-21-8): Detroit could welcome back some key players from lower-body injuries on Wednesday as Justin Abdelkader, Darren Helm and defenseman Trevor Daley all have a chance to be in the lineup, according to coach Jeff Blashill. "Between Trevor, Abby and Helmer, I think there's a great chance that all three will play," he told the team's website on Tuesday. "We'll know more (Wednesday) morning." Dylan Larkin leads the team with 38 points and needs eight to eclipse the career high he set as a rookie in 2015-16.
OVERTIME
1. The Sharks recalled C Danny O'Regan, who was a healthy scratch against Pittsburgh, from the San Jose Barracuda and assigned G Troy Grosenick to the American Hockey League club.
2. Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg is second on the team with 32 points but has scored only six goals and has yet to convert on the power play, leaving him one shy of 100 career man-advantage tallies.
3. San Jose G Aaron Dell likely will be in net after Martin Jones returned Tuesday from lower-body injury that cost him four games.