Jets at Red Wings
THE STORY: After putting the finishing touches on an outstanding homestand, the Winnipeg Jets will now look to improve their dismal showing on the road. The Jets make a rare December trek Saturday night as they visit the Red Wings in Detroit. Winnipeg is coming off an impressive 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, a result that secured a 4-1-0 mark on the club's longest homestand of the season – at least for now. The Jets return to the friendly confines of the MTS Centre after this one to play their next six games on home ice. The team with the cushiest December schedule in the league should expect a rough welcome in the Motor City, with the Red Wings coming off a 5-2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes two nights ago. Detroit has won eight of 10 to move into contention atop the Western Conference standings, and will be looking for revenge having lost its last two games against the Jets franchise.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBC, Fox Sports Detroit
ABOUT THE JETS (13-11-4): Winnipeg jumped all over the road-weary Hurricanes, scoring four times in the opening 31 1/2 minutes to chase starting netminder Cam Ward from the net. Evander Kane had a goal and an assist to lead the way, and has now scored seven times in his last seven games to remain among the league leaders in goals. Blake Wheeler added three assists, giving him seven points in his last six contests. The Jets come into Detroit just 4-7-4 on the road in 2011-12.
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (17-9-1): Detroit bounced back nicely from its first two-game losing streak since mid-November, dominating Phoenix from start to finish en route to its seventh win in the last nine games. Detroit has one of the tougher December schedules the rest of the way, playing seven of its final 10 games away from Joe Louis Arena. It's a pivotal stretch for the Red Wings, who are a phenomenal 11-2-1 at home but just 6-7-0 away from Detroit.
OVERTIME:
1. The winning team has scored at least five goals in seven of the last eight head-to-head meetings. The teams have split those games 4-4.
2. Detroit forward Pavel Datsyuk has been one of the hottest players in the league since the middle of November, recording six goals and 10 assists in his last 11 games.
3. The Jets outshot Carolina 37-25 Friday, the first time they've finished with more shots than their opponent over the course of their winning streak.