Red Wings Vs. Oilers: Detroit Tries To Take Down Edmonton Without Jimmy Howard

The Red Wings have won nine of their last ten and two straight, but if they're going to remain atop the NHL in points, they'll have to do it for the next couple weeks (at least) without the NHL's winningest goaltender this season, Jimmy Howard. Howard is out with a broken finger, which means Ty Conklin is likely to get the start in net tonight against the Oilers, who have won two straight themselves.

Howard broke the finger in Detroit's shootout win against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night and may need up to six weeks for it to heal. Currently, the Red Wings are first in the NHL in points with 71, just two ahead of the New York Rangers and four points ahead of the closest two in the Western Conference.

Edmonton is coming off Sam Gagner's historic eight-point performance on Thursday, the first to achieve such an accomplishment since Mario Lemieux in 1988! The Oilers are 3-0-1 in their last four games and have lost both games against the Red Wings this season, so they will be looking for blood.

For more on the Detroit Red Wings, check out Winging it in Motown.