Blue Jackets 1 - 2 Red Wings
Final
  for this game

Red Wings try to stay hot against Blue Jackets

Oct 15, 2013 - 3:08 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Behind a surging offense, the Detroit Red Wings take aim at a third straight victory on Tuesday night when they play host to the former division rival Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Red Wings have scored eight goals over their past two games, wins over Philadelphia and Boston, after having potted just eight tallies in their first four contests of the season. They have won four of six to begin the season and are coming off Monday's 3-2 triumph over the Bruins.

Stephen Weiss and Danny Cleary scored during a 2:20 span in the second period, while Henrik Zetterberg added a goal.

In his first start of the season, Jonas Gustavsson made 28 saves after Jimmy Howard was a late scratch due to a bruised hand suffered in Saturday's win over the Flyers.

"Maybe 15, 20 minutes before the game started," Gustavsson said when asked how much time he had to prepare. "I was excited to play. It's always fun to go out and have your first game, especially when we have a chance to win."

Howard's injury isn't considered serious and there is a chance he could play tonight. He is 10-3-2 with a 1.99 goals against average and one shutout in 17 career meetings with the Blue Jackets, while Gustavsson has lost both of his games against them with a 3.05 GAA.

Columbus has split its first four games of the season, winning twice on the road between a pair of home losses. It will play three straight as the visiting club beginning tonight.

The Blue Jackets returned home on Saturday and dropped a 3-1 decision to the Bruins. Jack Johnson had a power-play goal with just over a minute left in the opening frame, but Columbus failed to score after that.

"I think (the Bruins) started to take over the game a little bit in the second period," said Columbus head coach Todd Richards.

Sergei Bobrovsky kept his club in the game with 33 saves, yielding the game- winner 49 seconds into the third period.

Forward Black Comeau suffered a laceration just above his ankle in the game and did not return. He did not practice on Monday, but was expected to travel to Detroit and is questionable for this game.

Fellow forwards Marian Gaborik and Nick Foligno did not practice on Monday, but are both expected to play tonight. Gaborik has the flu and did not travel with the team, but was expected to arrive on his own ahead of the contest.

Foligno is also expected to make his own way to Detroit after his wife gave birth to the couple's first child, a girl, on Monday morning.

Bobrovsky is in line to start tonight and is 3-1-1 with a 2.14 GAA and one shutout in five meetings with the Red Wings.

The Blue Jackets went 4-0-1 in five meetings with the Red Wings last season when both played in the Central Division. Both shifted to the Eastern Conference under realignment this past offseason, with Columbus residing in the Metropolitan Division and Detroit now a member of the Atlantic Division.

The Jackets are looking to win a third straight game in Detroit.






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