• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Red Wings seek revenge against Islanders

Dec 31, 2010 - 4:22 PM (Sports Network) - The New York Islanders posted a blowout win over the Red Wings in the only meeting between the clubs last season. Detroit will attempt to return the favor tonight when it hosts the Islanders at Joe Louis Arena.

The Islanders pounded Detroit, 6-0, at Nassau Coliseum on Jan. 12 and Dwayne Roloson needed to make just 16 saves to record the shutout. It was the Isles' first home win versus the Red Wings since February 27, 1999.

New York has taken three of four overall from the Red Wings and the Isles have won their last two games in Detroit.

However, Detroit enters tonight as the top team in the Western Conference with 52 points and Mike Babcock's club has won its last three games to draw within one win of its longest winning streak of the year. The Red Wings previously won four in a row from Nov. 8-17.

The Islanders, meanwhile, are second from last in the NHL with just 26 points on the season, but New York has been playing some of its best hockey of the year in recent weeks. The Isles are coming off a shootout win over Pittsburgh on Wednesday and they are 5-1-1 in their last seven games.

P.A. Parenteau notched the game-winner in the fourth round of the shootout for the Isles on Wednesday, helping New York to a 2-1 home win over Pittsburgh. The game also saw Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby's league-best point scoring streak ended at 25 games.

Parenteau started the round with a wicked forehand that hit the net just under the crossbar at the right post. Mark Letestu had a chance to keep the game alive for the visitors, but Rick DiPietro smothered his shot with his pads to end the contest.

"It wasn't me -- it was a complete team effort," DiPietro said about stopping Crosby for the first time since early November. "It's a defensive core that played with a lot of focus and a lot of heart tonight and the offense chipped in. When we are playing smart in our defensive zone and we aren't running around making stupid mistakes at our blue line, we are a good hockey team."

Josh Bailey potted the lone regulation goal and DiPietro halted 37 shots for the Islanders.

Tonight, the Islanders will try to carry some momentum with them on the road, where the team has recorded a dreadful 3-12-3 record so far this season. This evening's test marks the opener of a five-game road trip for the Isles.

The Red Wings completed their recent four-game road trip with a 3-1-0 mark, putting an exclamation point on the trek with Wednesday's 7-3 victory in Dallas.

Patrick Eaves tallied his first career hat trick along with an assist as Detroit scored six unanswered goals to rout the Stars in a battle between first-place teams at American Airlines Center.

"That was awesome," Eaves said. "There were some pretty special passes coming my way tonight. I found some open slots and they went in. I'll take all of them. It was a huge win for us after being down 3-1."

Nicklas Lidstrom and Jiri Hudler each had a goal and an assist for the Red Wings. Brad Stuart and Kris Draper each added goals in the win, while Jimmy Howard made 28 saves between the pipes for Detroit.

Detroit, which is currently playing without key forwards Pavel Datsyuk, Dan Cleary and Mike Modano, has a stellar 13-4-3 record on home ice this season.