Stars at Red Wings
THE STORY: The Detroit Red Wings can make history Tuesday. Coach
Mike Babcock's club will vie for an NHL-record 21 consecutive home
victories when the Dallas Stars pay a visit to Joe Louis Arena. The
league-leading Red Wings, who last lost at home on Nov. 3 to the Calgary
Flames, are tied with the 1929-30 Boston Bruins and the 1975-76
Philadelphia Flyers for the honor. Detroit is riding a three-game
winning streak after posting a 4-3 triumph over the Flyers on Sunday.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Stars), FS Detroit Plus (Red Wings)
ABOUT THE STARS (28-24-3):
After suffering its fifth loss in seven home games with a 4-2 decision
versus the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday, coach Glen Gulutzan's club may
be looking forward to hitting the road. "I think we just have to take
that road mentality and bring it home," Gulutzan said. "We've played way
better on the road. We talked about that today, more of a team game.
It's not going to come easy." Dallas is 13-13-1 on the road. Right wing
Michael Ryder, who netted his team-leading 21st goal Sunday, has three
goals in four games. He scored twice and set up another in a 5-4 loss to
Detroit on Jan. 3.
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (38-17-2): Much
has been made of Detroit's streak - since three of the victories have
come via the shootout and one in overtime, luxuries not afforded the
previous owners of the record. To a man, the Red Wings aren't publicly
putting much stock in the streak. "We don't want to talk about it,"
captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. "We just want to keep it going." Right
wing Johan Franzen's team-leading 22nd goal of the season Sunday also
ended up being his league-leading 10th game-winning goal. The
32-year-old Swede has two goals and an assist in three games versus the
Stars this season.
OVERTIME:
1. Left wing Jiri
Hudler scored in regulation - as well as the second round of the
shootout - as the Red Wings skated to a 3-2 victory over the Stars in
their last meeting Jan. 18.
2. By scoring on Sunday, Dallas left
wing Loui Eriksson matched Ulf Dahlen for the most career goals (130) by
a Swedish-born player in franchise history.