On A Roll
Dallas,Tx – Few obstacles have slowed the Detroit Red Wings recent momentum. Another matchup with the Dallas Stars doesn’t figure to be one.
The Red Wings seek to extend their season-high winning streak to seven games and defeat the Stars for the second time in five days on Monday night when they open their longest road trip of 2008-09 at the American Airlines Center.
Oddsmakers from Online Sportsbook Sportsbook.com have made the Red Wings –190 money line favorites for Tuesday’s game against the Stars. Current NHL Public Betting Information shows that 59% of more than 169 bets for this game have been placed on the Red Wings -190.
Detroit has outscored opponents 24-8 during its current win streak and collected at least one point in 10 of its last 11 games (9-1-1).
Following Thursday’s 6-1 victory over visiting Dallas, Detroit (29-7-5) completed a perfect three-game homestand Saturday night with its seventh consecutive win at Joe Louis Arena, 3-1 against Buffalo.
Despite outshooting the Sabres 48-22, the Red Wings didn’t get anything past Sabres goalie Ryan Miller until Jiri Hudler notched his 16th tally late in the second period.
"We thought if we stayed at their net, we’d get our opportunities," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "(Miller) made some great saves early, but we stayed patient and were able to get the win."
Detroit, which moved within four points of Western Conference-leading San Jose (67), seeks its first seven-game winning streak since Jan. 19-Feb. 5, 2008.
The Red Wings open a six-game road trip with this contest, but fell 3-1 at the American Airlines Center on Dec. 12, and have alternated wins and losses in their last eight visits to Dallas (17-17-6).
Detroit, however, has won 12 of the teams’ last 17 matchups (12-4-1) overall, including last season’s conference finals series, when the Red Wings ousted the Stars in six games en route to their 11th Stanley Cup championship.
Dallas hasn’t played like a postseason contender thus far, entering its three-game homestand tied with Los Angeles for 13th in the West. The Stars completed a 1-2-1 road trip with a 1-0 shootout loss at Phoenix on Saturday.
Marty Turco made 28 saves through overtime to record his first shutout of the season, but failed to stop three of the five shootout attempts.
"When you get a shutout, you think that you should get the win," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. "We didn’t. We’re in the winning business. We’re not in the just-about business."
Turco hope he doesn’t come up short against Detroit like he did Thursday, when he was chased after giving up four goals in two periods. He is just 5-15-0 with five ties, a shutout and a 2.88 goals-against average in 26 lifetime games, including playoffs.
Additionally, Turco will have to contend with an offense among the league leaders with 3.73 goals per game.
Pavel Datsyuk tops the Red Wings with 29 assists and 47 points, and has 15 goals and 27 points in 27 all-time matchups against the Stars, whose 3.4 goals allowed per game rank among the worst defenses in the West.
Dallas has totaled five regulation goals in its last four games, and faces a Detroit team that has blanked two opponents during its win streak. Ty Conklin has both shutouts for the Red Wings, but Chris Osgood has been solid against the Stars.
Osgood, who had 22 saves in Thursday’s win is 8-2-0 with a 1.61 GAA in his last 10 meetings against the Stars, including the playoffs.
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Posted: 1/12/09 12:05AM ET
