The Detroit Red Wings are off to a very streaky start to the 2011-12 NHL season. They opened the season with five straight wins for their best start since the 1970s, and since then they have managed to drop four games in a row. The losing streak began last Saturday with a 7-1 thrashing at the hands of the Washington Capitals, and it continued earlier in the week with losses to the Columbus Blue Jackets and San Jose Sharks. On Saturday, the Minnesota Wild downed the Red Wings by a score of 1-0, giving Detroit its fourth consecutive loss.
The first and only goal of this game came halfway through the first period. Minnesota's Dany Heatley, who was picked up from the Sharks in the offseason, scored a goal assisted by Mikko Koivu. That was all goaltender Josh Harding needed, as he saved all 36 shots he faced on Saturday night.
The Red Wings will quickly have a chance to get revenge on the Wild since their next game is on Tuesday at home against Minnesota. This will be the third meeting already this season between the Red Wings and Wild, and Detroit will hope to put an end to this losing streak in order to stay above .500 on the season.