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Red Wings open home-and-home series vs. Blue Jackets

Dec 18, 2006 - 3:22 PM Detroit (19-8-4) at Columbus (11-17-3) 7:00 pm EST

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- After ending a lengthy road losing streak, the Detroit Red Wings are looking to build upon one of the league's best overall road marks.

The Red Wings seek their sixth win in seven contests Monday when they conclude a three-game road trip against the improved Columbus Blue Jackets in the opener of a home-and-home series.

Detroit improved to 10-5-1 away from home by recording its first road triumph over the New Jersey Devils since November 20, 1993, with Saturday's 2-1 victory.

Pavel Datsyuk scored his seventh goal of the season on a power play and Brett Lebda added his second midway through the the third period for the Red Wings, who snapped a nine-game winless streak at New Jersey, which included two losses in the 1995 Stanley Cup final.

After outscoring their opponents, 21-4, in a season-best five-game winning streak, the Blue Jackets have yielded 11 goals in two consecutive losses.

Rick Nash scored his 11th goal and Fredrik Modin added his ninth - both on power plays - for Columbus, which yielded the first four tallies in Saturday's 6-4 defeat to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Dan Cleary scored twice and six-time Vezina Trophy winner Dominik Hasek made 16 saves to lead the Red Wings to a 4-1 win over the Blue Jackets in their last matchup on November 4.