Joined
·
4,032 Posts
GAME: Minnesota Wild (8-7-2) at Detroit Red Wings (14-2-1).
TIME: Friday, 7:30 p.m. EST.
http://www.nhl.com/scores/previews/249_2_preview.htmlTomas Holmstrom has found his scoring touch playing on a line with Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. The Detroit Red Wings hope the unit continues to click as they face the Minnesota Wild at Joe Louis Arena.
Holmstrom's best goal total in a season was 20 in 2002-03, but he appears well on his way to setting a new career high. The left wing scored his seventh and eighth goals as the Red Wings posted a 5-4 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday.
Holmstrom, whose physical style and play in front of the net complements the speed and skill of his linemates, has seven goals in his last four games after scoring one in the first 13.
"Just give the puck to Hank (Zetterberg) or Pavel and go to the net," Holmstrom said. "... It's lots of fun on our line now."
Goaltender Manny Legace returned to the lineup after missing three games with a sprained knee and made 37 saves. He looked sharp in turning aside 28 of 29 shots the first two periods, but allowed three third-period goals that sent the game to overtime before Robert Lang scored 1:39 into the extra period.
The Red Wings have the league's best power play at 25.2 percent, but they've converted only one of 16 chances the past three games.
Minnesota had its two-game winning streak ended in a 4-2 loss to Phoenix on Tuesday. Dwayne Roloson was pulled after a three-goal first period, and Manny Fernandez may get the start Friday after stopping seven of eight shots the final two periods.
"I think we gave them about six odd-man rushes and they scored four goals on them," Wild coach Jacques Lemaire said. "We played well, except for a few little mistakes."