After a slow start to the season, the Detroit Red Wings are slowly starting to gain their rhythm on offense. The Los Angeles Kings got off to a quick start, but appear to be slowly regressing through the past few games despite getting the wins. Both
Teams are hopeful that this is a matchup that will highlight the playoffs come the spring, but they need to figure out their remaining issues before hand.
The Red Wings are getting into a solid groove at this point in the NHL season. They appeared to be in the mid of another offensive disaster trailing the Washington Capitals through two periods. However, Justin Abdelkader and Pavel Datsyuk each got credited with goals that seasled the win. Abdelkader is leading the way with five scores while Datsyuk is progressing on the power play. Detroit was outshot 27-22 in the game, but three goals in the third period was enough for the win.
The Red Wings are hoping to lean on Jimmy Howard in this game who has been a nightmare for the Kings. The goaltender has a 1.58 goals-against average against the Kings while Detroit has won the past four of five meetings. Jonathan Quick will make his return for the Kings after Los Angeles started Marin Jones on Thursday. The goalie was in the middle of a 5-0-1 stretch with a 1.14 GAA. However, he has struggled against the Red Wings with a 3.48 GAA in his past 10 starts against the Western Conference team while going 2-7-1 in that stretch.
The Kings are coming off their second shut out of the year after falling to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The team put up 36 shots, but failed to get any in the net. Being without Anze Kopitar certainly hurt the effort as he sits out with an upper body injury. However, he has struggled in his last couple of games with a 6.3 percent of shots in his last six games.
Detroit is hopeful that Howard is the x-factor for this matchup. With Detroit finding their offense more and more in the coming games, Howard will need to do his part.
