Red Wings 4 - 1 Predators
Final
  for this game

Weber, Preds host Red Wings

Dec 26, 2011 - 4:13 PM (Sports Network) - Nashville captain Shea Weber's current point streak began with an excellent effort over Detroit 11 days ago. The Predators' leading scorer will look for a repeat effort this evening as his club looks to deal the Red Wings a third straight loss.

Weber has seven goals and 14 assists in Nashville's past 20 games, including two goals and six helpers over a five-game point streak. That run began when he scored the tying and game-winning goals over Detroit in a 4-3 rally at home on Dec. 15.

"In big moments you need your top players to step up and Shea stepped up in a huge way today," said Predators coach Barry Trotz after that win.

Weber had an assist in Friday's 6-3 loss to the Stars, giving him a helper in a career high-tying four games in a row. Still, the Predators lost for the second time in three games following a five-game win streak.

Matt Halischuk, Martin Erat and David Legwand scored for the Predators, while Pekka Rinne gave up three goals on seven shots in the first period before being replaced by Anders Lindback.

"I didn't think we played that poorly, but the pucks ended up in our net and that's what happened in the game," Nashville head coach Barry Trotz said. "In the end, the three-goal start was the difference."

Nashville, which has won five in a row at home, has bested Detroit in five of the past seven meetings overall, including three of four at home.

The Red Wings will hope to have fresher legs in this game following the Christmas break after losing the final two tests of a three-game swing through Western Canada. The consecutive defeats came on back-to-back nights, a 4-2 decision in Vancouver prior to Friday's 3-2 setback in Calgary, but head coach Mike Babcock wouldn't blame the road for the struggles.

"I don't buy that. You play back-to-back on the road in the NHL all the time," said Babcock. "You've got to dig in and find a way to win and we didn't make the hard decision to do that."

Ian White and Jiri Hudler scored third-period goals and Ty Conklin made 24 saves as Detroit lost for the fifth time in its last seven on the road.

"We've had a tough little stretch here," said White. "I thought we responded well at the end there, but we just fell short in this game."

Detroit fell to 8-10-0 on the road, while Nashville brings a 9-5-3 home record into this encounter.






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