Sharks at Red Wings
THE STORY: Jimmy Howard witnessed one
of the joys of life when he welcomed the birth of his son earlier this
week. What the Detroit Red Wings goaltender missed in the interim was
his team's first two losses - lopsided ones, at that. Howard, who has
won all four of his starts this season, is expected to be back between
the pipes on Friday as the Red Wings host the San Jose Sharks. Detroit
dropped decisions to the NHL-best Washington Capitals and the
league-worst Columbus Blue Jackets. Now, Howard is ready to turn the
tide. "I'm very anxious and very excited to get back," he said. "I
wouldn't trade it for the world, but it's nice to get back out on the
ice." Welcoming Howard back is San Jose, which has been in a constant
thorn in his side. Although Howard is 3-2-1 in six regular-season games
against the Sharks, it's the postseason that matters in Hockeytown. San
Jose has shown Detroit the way to the offseason following a pair of
eliminations in the Western Conference semifinals in each of the last
two years. The Sharks enter Friday's contest having won the first three
contests of their six-game road trip.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NHLN, CSCA
ABOUT THE SHARKS (4-3-0): Captain Joe Thornton became
the 50th player in NHL history to notch his 700th assist during San
Jose's 3-1 triumph over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. Thornton has
certainly fared well versus the Red Wings, collecting five goals and
four assists in six regular-season games. Linemate Joe Pavelski has
recorded four goals and two assists during the road trip, though he has
failed to net a goal in his last eight contests against Detroit.
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (5-2-0): Coach Mike Babcock was not
thrilled with his team's lackluster effort against the previously
winless Blue Jackets, so much so that he called an unscheduled practice
on Wednesday. After posting a four-game point streak in which he
collected four goals and three assists, Johan Franzen has been held off
the scoresheet in his last two contests.
OVERTIME:
1. Antti Niemi has clipped the Red Wings routinely in his career, posting a 5-1-1 mark with a 1.97 goals-against average.
2. Detroit is struggling with its special teams this season. It has
killed off just 76.9 percent of its shorthanded opportunities, which is
tied for eighth-worst in the NHL. Conversely, San Jose is scoring on
19.2 percent of its power plays.