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Predators, Red Wings meet in Central Division clash

Mar 6, 2007 - 3:29 PM Nashville (44-18-5) at Detroit (41-16-9) 7:30 pm EST

DETROIT (Ticker) -- What transpires between the Nashville Predators and the Detroit Red Wings in the next nine days may determine who wins the Central Division title.

The clubs play on Tuesday in the first of three crucial clashes in the next nine days.

Nashville, which has 93 points and is tied with Buffalo for the most points in the NHL, holds a two-point advantage over the Red Wings in the division. The clubs play again in Nashville on March 13 and in Detroit the next night.

Both teams have been playing well recently. Detroit is 5-0-3 in its last eight games while Nashville is 5-0-2 in its last seven contests. However, both teams are battling injuries as well.

Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg, who had a seven-game points streak, is out with a bad back and is not supposed to return for two weeks. Tomas Holmstrom is sidelined indefinitely with an upper body injury while Daniel Cleary is day-to-day with a knee injury.

Red Wings goaltender Dominik Hasek, who leads the league with a 2.04 goals-against average, has missed two straight starts with a thigh injury and is listed as day-to-day.

The Predators have been playing without Scott Hartnell, who is out four-to-six weeks with a broken foot. Steve Sullivan and Peter Forsberg are listed as day-to-day with upper-body injuries while Jason Arnott is day-to-day with the flu.

The Red Wings look to bounce back from Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The Predators also suffered a tough defeat Sunday, squandering a two-goal lead in a 3-2 shootout loss at Anaheim.