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Red Wings welcome Ducks to the Joe

Nov 5, 2011 - 3:09 PM (Sports Network) - A pair of clubs on lengthy losing streaks will try to get back on track tonight, as the Detroit Red Wings host the Anaheim Ducks at Joe Louis Arena.

The Red Wings have lost six straight games (0-5-1) since opening the season with a 5-0 record. This is Detroit's first six-game slide since Feb. 7-17, 2008 -- a season that ended with the Red Wings winning the Stanley Cup.

Detroit last went seven games without a win from Dec. 18-31, 1998, when it went 0-6 with a tie. The Red Wings haven't lost seven straight tilts since Jan. 14-30, 1991.

The Red Wings hope to take advantage of their recent history against Anaheim to get back in the win column tonight. Detroit has won six straight and 15 of its last 16 home games against the Ducks

Detroit also won three of four meetings against the Ducks last year and the Wings have claimed eight of 11 overall in this series.

The Red Wings' latest setback came Thursday night against visiting Calgary. Jarome Iginla had two goals and one assist to lead the Flames to the 4-1 victory at Joe Louis Arena.

Danny Cleary had Detroit's only goal on a power play in the second period and Jimmy Howard gave up three goals on 21 shots. The Red Wings had a five-game winning streak against Calgary snapped and also fell to 0-1-1 at the start of a six-game homestand.

The Red Wings have been outscored 22-6 on their current losing streak, leaving head coach Mike Babcock wondering what's happened to the team that started the season so well.

"It's going to take 20 guys doing it right for 60 minutes," said Babcock. "We've scored six goals in our last six -- that's just not enough."

Meanwhile, the Ducks have lost four straight games, but Anaheim has registered a point in each of its last two setbacks. The Ducks lost an overtime decision Tuesday in Washington and followed that up with Tuesday's shootout loss to the New York Rangers.

Anaheim has dropped seven of its last eight games and is just 1-2-3 on a seven-game road trip that ends tonight in the Motor City.

The Ducks suffered a 2-1 defeat Thursday in New York, as Erik Christensen and Marian Gaborik scored on backhands in the shootout to lift the Rangers to a 2-1 decision.

Bobby Ryan had the only goal for Anaheim, tying the game in the second period, and Jonas Hiller finished with 24 saves.

"He stood in there, he gave up one goal," Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf said of his goaltender. "That's all we can ask from him."

Anaheim, which will kick off a three-game homestand Wednesday against Nashville, is just 2-3-3 on the road this season.