The Detroit Red Wings are once again on a five-game winning streak and are looking for number six on Wednesday when they play host to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Detroit is outscoring opponents 20-9 over its last five games, and have been on either winning or losing streaks all season. A six game streak would be the best for the season, and would do a lot to erase the fact that they've already had a six game losing skid earlier in the season.
Wednesday's game will be the first and only meeting between the two teams this season. The Red Wings won the last meeting a season ago, where Pavel Datsyuk scored two goals to lift Detroit to a 6-2 victory in Tampa Bay. Now they're playing at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, where Tampa Bay has only won once before, and it came in 1994.
The game signifies the first time back in Detroit for Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman, and it should be an emotional time for him. Tampa Bay is looking to avoid starting a losing streak, after dropping their game on Monday against the Minnesota Wild 3-1. That came right after beating the Florida Panthers 5-1.
Detroit will continue to be without Patrick Eaves, who will miss the next six to eight weeks after a broken jaw blocking a shot. Steve Downie is expected to be back in the lineup for Tampa Bay, who has missed him over the last four games. The game is set for 7:30 p.m. eastern and can be seen on the Versus network.