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Red Wings-Capitals Preview

Jan 18, 2010 - 6:13 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Detroit (24-16-8) at Washington (30-12-6), 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Detroit Red Wings have been among the highest-scoring teams in the NHL the last few seasons, but goals have been hard to come by during an injury-riddled 2009-10.

There is no doubt about which team has been the league's best offensive club this season.

The Washington Capitals have been especially prolific lately, and they'll try to score at least four goals for the eighth straight game while extending their winning streak to four as they host Detroit on Tuesday night.

Washington (30-12-6) scored 36 goals in going 6-1-0 over the last seven games. The Caps are coming off a 5-3 win over Philadelphia on Sunday in which superstar forward Alex Ovechkin scored his first career penalty shot goal.

Ovechkin totaled four goals and 10 assists in his last six games and is close to the NHL points lead despite missing eight games earlier this season due to injury and suspension.

Since the 1996-97 season, only the 2005-06 Ottawa Senators have averaged more than the Capitals' 3.71 goals per game, which is nearly half a goal higher than any other team.

Washington has been at its best at home, scoring 4.0 goals per game while going 16-3-3. The club scored at least five goals in each of its last three home contests, activating a promotion that gives fans free wings.

"We just want to give fans free chicken wings and give them free food, you know?" Ovechkin said.

The Capitals showcased their depth behind Ovechkin against the Flyers as Brooks Laich - one of nine Washington players with at least 10 goals - scored twice. Laich had been held to two goals in his previous 26 games.

"We just looked over his video - his shifts, his goals - we saw if there was anything we could find that he was doing different," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "We had a good talk, and I was so happy when he scored."

From the end of the NHL lockout in 2005 through last season, the Red Wings' 3.34 goals per game were most in the league, and they easily led the NHL by averaging 3.52 goals in 2008-09 en route to their second straight Stanley Cup finals appearance.

With several key players having missed time due to injuries, however, Detroit ranks in the bottom five in scoring, averaging more than a goal per game less than last season.

Johan Franzen, Tomas Holmstrom and Niklas Kronwall remain out but the Red Wings (24-16-8) have gotten healthier lately, going 6-2-3 in their last 11. They suffered their second straight shootout defeat Sunday, 4-3 to Chicago, but the game could still be seen as progress for Detroit. The Wings lost 3-0 in each of their previous two meetings with the Western Conference-leading Blackhawks.

"We've still got to figure out a way to get two points," right wing Todd Bertuzzi said. "I still think we're the team to beat."

In ninth place in the West, the Red Wings have work to do if they hope to reach their 19th consecutive postseason, but they have solidified their goaltending situation thanks to the strong recent play of Jimmy Howard.

Howard has started 12 straight games and gone 6-3-3 with a 1.89 goals-against average. He has never faced the Capitals, as Chris Osgood was in net for the Red Wings' 3-2 home win over Washington on Oct. 10.

Jose Theodore started the last two games for Washington, but Semyon Varlamov could be close to returning from knee and groin problems.