(SportsNetwork.com) – The Detroit Red Wings will try to record consecutive
wins for the first time this month when they continue a road trip with
Thursday’s matchup against the Winnipeg Jets.
Detroit began a three-game trek Tuesday with a 5-0 rout of the Columbus Blue
Jackets. The decisive victory came two days after the Red Wings dropped a 4-1
decision in Sunday’s home test versus the Montreal Canadiens.
The Red Wings received a 28-save performance from Jimmy Howard, who picked up
his first shutout of the season.
Tomas Tatar and Tomas Jurco each posted a goal and an assist while Gustav
Nyquist, Riley Sheahan and Darren Helm all scored for the Red Wings, who have
won three of their last five.
“We needed this game after that tough loss to Montreal,” said Jurco. “We
talked about tightening up defensively and getting more pucks on net and
things worked out well.”
Pavel Datsyuk missed Tuesday’s test due to a groin injury. Detroit’s star
forward is traveling to Winnipeg with the team, but he missed practice on
Wednesday and isn’t expected to play tonight.
Petr Mrazek will get the start in net for Detroit tonight. He is 3-5-0 with a
1.80 goals against average in his NHL career, but this will mark his first
appearance in 2014-15. The 22-year-old Czech has never faced the Jets.
Winnipeg is aiming for a second straight win after halting a two-game skid
with Tuesday’s 3-1 home win over New Jersey. The victory pushed the Jets over
the .500 mark at home, giving them a 4-3-1 record at MTS Centre.
Michael Frolik scored a third-period goal and collected an assist to help
Winnipeg down the Devils. Mathieu Perreault and Mark Scheifele scored 1:44
apart in the second period and Michael Hutchinson stopped 21 shots for the
Jets, who were coming off a 2-2-1 road trip.
The Jets, however, went 0-for-5 on the power play and the club is ranked 29th
in the league on the man advantage. Winnipeg has converted just 9 percent (6-
of-67) of its power-play opportunities.
“Clearly the power play is a sore spot for us and it has to get better,” said
Winnipeg head coach Paul Maurice.
The Jets are playing the middle test of a three-game homestand tonight and
will complete the residency Sunday against St. Louis.
Winnipeg swept the two-game season series with the Red Wings last season and
has claimed four of the past five meetings between the clubs. Detroit has lost
three of its last four road tests against the Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise.
