Red Wings Snap Road Skid, Blackhawks Eye Win to Regain Top Spot

With its 3-1 win over the Florida Panthers (22-28-7), the Detroit Red Wings (26-19-12) not only snapped its 3 of 4 loss record against this team but also ended a four-game road losing steak. The win also came by two goals as compared to this matchup’s usual one-goal games.

Gustav Nyquist

Tied at 1-1 in the second period, Gustav Nyquist scored and gave the Red Wings a 2-1 advantage (his ninth in nine games). In the third period, Brian Lashoff scored another one to give the Red Wings a further and final lead. Daniel Alfredsson scored the first goal of the night and goalie Jimmy Howard had 23 saves.

The Panthers didn’t give up easily and in the third period, had 16 shots. Howard fended them off, holding them to only one goal for the game; he said of the night via CBS Sports.com, “Down a goal, you knew they were going to throw everything at the net. I just tried to get to the top of the paint and make myself as big as possible.”

Scottie Upshall scored Florida’s sole goal while goalie Tim Thomas had 30 saves. The team has now lost its last four of five games.

Next up for the Panthers is a Friday night game against the Carolina Hurricanes (25-21-9). The loss streak will continue as Carolina gets the win (-168, 5 o/u).

As for the Red Wings, they’ll get the day off and resume play on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning (32-20-5). Detroit sits at 33/1 to win this year’s Stanley Cup.

In other Thursday action, the Washington Capital’s (26-23-9) Alex Ovechkin’s goal No. 40 for the season (the league’s leader) gave his team a 3-2 advantage during the third period against the Winnipeg Jets (28-26-5). With final goal by Troy Brouwer, the Capitals walked away with a 4-2 win.

Goalie Braden Holtby had 34 saves for Washington and with the victory, it gives the team a boost after it had previously lost its last three of four games.  It will have one final game on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils (23-21-13) before the Olympic break.

The Capitals sit at 33/1 to win the 2014 Stanley Cup.

Looking ahead to Friday’s games, is the Chicago Blackhawks (35-10-14) vs. the Phoenix Coyotes (26-20-10) game.

Patrick Kane

With this the last one before the break with 10 players getting ready for the Olympics, the Blackhawks not only have an eye on the win but also a Saturday loss by the Anaheim Ducks (40-14-5) in their game against the Nashville Predators (25-23-10) to regain the top spot in the Western Conference.

Brandon Bollig said of the possibility via CSNChicago.com,“We definitely still have a job to do, and our goal is to become first in the league after tomorrow. Obviously, getting a win there would (help) put us in that position. So that’s what we’re looking to do. Guys are excited for the break and for the Olympics, but our minds are definitely in the right spot and we’re looking to get a job done tomorrow.”

The game also represents the end of a West coast road trip for Chicago where they first suffered a 5-4 OT to Calgary (22-28-7) on Jan. 28 but have since rallied, going 3-0-1 with wins over the Vancouver Canucks, the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim.

With a win on Friday, it will be the first time since Dec. 8-11, 2013 that the team has won three straight games.

In their last meeting against the Coyotes on Nov. 30 in Phoenix, the Blackhawks won 5-2 and on Nov. 14, 5-4 with a shootout. They will be without talented Patrick Kane on Friday, who will be attending his grandfather’s funeral.

His absence will be felt but the Blackhawks will still get the win (-128, 5.5 o/u). They sit at 11/2 to win this year’s Stanley Cup.