Flames at Red Wings
THE STORY: A hot start turned quickly into a freezing cold stretch, as the Detroit Red Wings have dropped five in a row while managing a total of five goals. Always known for their high scoring, the Red Wings are getting little from stars like Henrik Zetterberg, Tomas Holmstrom and Jiri Hudler. Even Pavel Datsyuk is minus-six over the last five games with three assists and no goals. The Calgary Flames appeared to be turning a corner offensively in back-to-back wins last week but were blasted, 5-1, by the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. The Flames have their own struggling superstar in Jarome Iginla. Calgary will be kicking off a three-game road trip when it visits Joe Louis Arena on Thursday night.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Rogers Sportsnet West, Fox Sports Detroit.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (4-5-1): Miikka Kiprusoff allowed only three goals on 65 shots in wins over Colorado and St. Louis last week but got no help from his defense in Tuesday's loss. Calgary has recorded a total of two power-play goals in its last seven games and on Tuesday managed just four total shot in six opportunities with the man advantage. Iginla has one point in the last six games and four this season.
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (5-4-1): Hudler was a healthy scratch on Tuesday after not even recording a shot on goal in the four previous games. Detroit totaled 18 goals through its first five games - all wins - but has only five since, including a 2-for-18 mark on the power play. Jimmy Howard has done his job, posting a 1.84 goals against average.
OVERTIME:
1. Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall, who signed a seven-year, $33.25 million contract extension on Monday, took a hard shoulder to the jaw in overtime on Tuesday and had to be helped off the ice.
2. Iginla has 50 points - 17 goals - in 56 career games against Detroit.
3. The Red Wings have won five straight in the series.