Red Wings at Ducks
THE STORY: Just a few days ago, Pavel Datysuk assessed his early season performance as "awful". Although the 33-year-old Russian was using some creative license with the word, he clearly wasn't performing at the level for which he was accustomed. On Saturday, Datsyuk ended a 12-game goal-scoring drought by tallying twice as the Detroit Red Wings recorded a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. In typical modest fashion, the four-time Lady Byng winner was already looking ahead. "It's only one game," Datsyuk said after doubling his goal total for the season. "I hope I keep going. I hope it's a start." For his part, Red Wings coach Mike Babcock wasn't going to let Datsyuk's performance go without notice. "It was great to see Pavel get a couple (on Saturday)," Babcock said. "He's a goal-scorer, he wants to score, feel good about himself." Detroit also felt good about itself after snapping a five-game road losing skid. The Red Wings will feel even better if they can string back-to-back road triumphs together when they face the struggling Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center on Sunday. Anaheim has dropped three in a row and is 2-8-4 in its last 14 contests.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSD+, FSPT
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (10-7-1): Detroit posted just its third road win in eight games this season by crowning the Kings. By comparison, the Red Wings owned the second-best road mark in the league in 2010-11 at 26-11-4. Veteran Todd Bertuzzi returned after missing six games with a sinus infection. Brendan Smith secured his first career NHL point with an assist on Saturday.
ABOUT THE DUCKS (6-9-4): Andrew Cogliano netted his third career two-goal game, but Anaheim continued its losing ways with a 5-3 loss to Los Angeles on Thursday. After collecting one goal and one assist in his first 15 games with the Ducks, Cogliano has recorded four points in as many contests. Veteran Teemu Selanne notched a pair of assists and has a team-leading 18 points.
OVERTIME:
1. Reigning Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom collected a pair of goals and Jimmy Howard turned aside all 22 shots in Detroit's 5-0 victory over Anaheim on Nov. 5.
2. Niklas Hagman logged 10 minutes of ice time in his debut with the Ducks. He was paired with third-liners Brandon McMillan and Devante Smith-Pelly primarily, although he also had a couple of shifts with Ryan Getzlaf and reigning Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry.