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Tough task: Blue Jackets try for first win vs. Red Wings

Oct 21, 2011 - 2:48 PM (Sports Network) - The Blue Jackets are off to the worst start in franchise history and judging by their track record against the Red Wings it seems unlikely that Columbus will end the slide tonight in Detroit.

Not only are the Blue Jackets 0-5-1 on the year compared to Detroit's unblemished 4-0-0 mark, but Columbus has also lost seven of nine and 10 of the last 13 meetings in this series. The Jackets have also come out on the losing end in nine of their last 11 trips to Detroit's Joe Louis Arena.

On top of that recent regular-season history, the Blue Jackets were also swept in four games by Detroit in the first round of the 2009 playoffs. That dubious playoff memory stands as Columbus' one and only postseason series.

The Blue Jackets' last two losses came against the Dallas Stars, who posted a pair of regulation victories over Columbus to sweep a home-and-home series. The finale of that set came Tuesday in Ohio, as Kari Lehtonen made 38 saves to help the Stars edge Columbus, 3-2, at Nationwide Arena.

Derick Brassard and Kris Russell scored, while Steve Mason stopped 15-of-18 shots for the Blue Jackets.

"I think we played a good game, we competed hard," Brassard said. "The whole team played well, we just came up short."

Mason has started every game for Columbus this year, and with goaltenders Curtis Sanford and Mark Dekanich still out with injuries, he is expected to start again tonight. Mathieu Corbeil, a 20-year-old rookie with no NHL experience, will once again serve as the backup.

Making matters worse for Columbus, prior to Tuesday's game, the club placed forward Jeff Carter on injured reserve with a fracture in his foot. The high- priced centerman was acquired from Philadelphia in a blockbuster trade this summer and is expected to miss at least two weeks.

The unbeaten Red Wings should be well-rested for tonight's contest, having last played on Saturday in Minnesota. Detroit posted a 3-2 overtime victory over the Wild in that one, as Johan Franzen provided the game-winner with a power-play goal in the extra session.

The Red Wings were down 2-0 late in the second period, but goals by Ian White and Jiri Hudler would send the game to OT.

Matt Cullen of the Wild was sent to the penalty box for tripping at the 2:34 mark of overtime. Detroit headed into the power play with an 0-for-18 mark on the season, but that would change.

With 48.5 seconds left, a mad scramble for the puck occurred in front of Harding. Tomas Holmstrom was able to backhand a pass to Franzen, who was being checked from behind. Franzen went crashing into the net, but managed to get his stick on the puck and guide it across the goal line. The goal was upheld after a review.

Jimmy Howard needed to make just 12 saves in the win for Detroit, which is off to a 4-0 start for the first time since the 1997-98 season, when they went 5-0 with a tie.

Detroit went 21-14-6 as the home team last season and has won its first two games in Motown this year. Columbus is 0-2-0 as the guest in 2011-12 after going 17-16-8 as the visitor last year.