Anaheim Ducks (6-8-3) at Detroit Red Wings (9-5-3), 7 p.m.

Sports Network | November 14, 2009

(Sports Network) - The surging Detroit Red Wings will shoot for a third consecutive victory and sixth in seven games when they welcome the Anaheim Ducks for tonight's clash at Joe Louis Arena.

The Red Wings had just three wins in their first nine outings of the year, but the defending Western Conference champions have since notched six wins in their next eight contests.

After recording a laughably easy win in Wednesday's 9-1 thrashing at Columbus, the Red Wings kicked off a four-game homestand with a 3-1 decision over Vancouver the following night. Henrik Zetterberg scored the game-winner early in the third period to lift Detroit to its fifth win in six games.

Zetterberg also had an assist for the Red Wings and Niklas Kronwall recorded a goal and a helper. Tomas Holmstrom added a goal for Detroit, which got 31 saves from Jimmy Howard, who was filling in for regular starter Chris Osgood.

Howard is likely to get the start again tonight as Osgood is still suffering from flu-like symptoms. Veteran forward Kirk Maltby is also battling an illness and is not expected to play tonight.

The Red Wings, who will close out their homestand with games against Dallas and Florida, are 6-1-1 as the host this season.

Prior to tonight's game, the Red Wings will honor captain Nicklas Lidstrom for recording his 1,000th career point on October 15 against Los Angeles. The six- time Norris Trophy winner is the eighth defenseman in league history to reach the milestone.

The Ducks were dealt their second straight loss Friday night in Columbus, but were able to record a point in the shootout defeat. Kristian Huselius and Rick Nash each scored in regulation and the shootout, helping the Blue Jackets record the 3-2 win at Nationwide Arena.

Ryan Getzlaf had two assists for the Ducks to extend his streak of games with an assist to nine, setting a team record in the process. Getzlaf and teammate Corey Perry, who had an assist on Friday, have the longest current point streak in the NHL at 10 games.

"We did a good job staying in this hockey game," Getzlaf said. "We were right there and had our chances. Unfortunately it didn't come out the way we wanted it to."

Bobby Ryan and Todd Marchant had the goals for Anaheim, while Jean-Sebastien Giguere, playing in his first game since October 24, had 27 stops in the setback. The Ducks are expected to go back to Jonas Hiller as their starting netminder tonight.

Ducks center Saku Koivu missed his second straight game with a lower-body injury and is questionable for tonight.

Anaheim is winless so far on a four-game road trip that ends Monday in Pittsburgh. The Ducks have a 2-2-3 record as the visiting club this season.

Detroit won three out of four in last year's season series with the Ducks and has taken six of the last nine meetings between the clubs. Anaheim has dropped two straight and 11 of its last 12 in the Motor City.