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Red Wings host Leafs aiming to push win streak to 4

Dec 10, 2014 - 3:31 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Detroit Red Wings aim to win four straight for the second time in less than two weeks on Wednesday night as they play host to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Red Wings won a season-high four in a row from Nov. 24-30, a run that came to an end with a setback to the Florida Panthers last Tuesday.

However, Detroit rebounded with back-to-back home wins before picking up a 3-1 victory over the hosting Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. Pavel Datsyuk scored and assisted on both of Tomas Tatar's goals, while Petr Mrazek made 34 saves in his third start of the season.

He has won all three while posting a 2.59 goals against average and .912 save percentage.

"Every goaltender loves when the defensemen have the rebounds," said Mrazek. "I gave up a couple rebounds at the end of the first period and guys cleared everything out."

Tatar and Datsyuk took care of the rest. The former has three goals and four assists over a seven-game point streak, while Datsyuk has seven goals and 11 points in his past seven games.

Datsyuk, named the NHL's First Star for last week on Monday, has 12 goals and 22 points in 17 games on the season.

Wednesday marks the fourth of five meetings between the Red Wings and Maple Leafs this season, with Detroit visiting Toronto for the finale on Saturday.

The Red Wings had won four straight in the series before the Leafs picked up a 4-1 victory at home on Nov. 22. It was Toronto's first win over Detroit since a shootout decision in the 2014 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium on Jan. 1.

Tatar had a goal for Detroit in the recent loss in Toronto, while Jimmy Howard allowed three goals on 27 shots. He fell to 3-2-1 versus the Maple Leafs with a 2.35 goals against average and .907 save percentage.

Howard figures to get the start tonight.

Tyler Bozak had two goals versus the Red Wings and Jonathan Bernier picked up the win with 26 saves.

Bernier made his ninth straight start in last night's 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames, posting 31 saves to give Toronto a 4-1-0 homestand.

"He's been phenomenal for us all year, especially lately," Toronto's James van Riemsdyk said of Bernier. "All you can ask your goalie is to give you a chance to win every night, and he's done that and more every game."

The Leafs got a goal and an assist from van Riemsdyk, while Peter Holland, Phil Kessel and Mike Santorelli lit the lamp as well. Dion Phaneuf and Nazem Kadri both had two assists in Toronto's sixth victory in eight games.

Toronto will try to match its season high win streak of three straight games tonight and it is unknown if the club will stick with Bernier or give James Reimer his first start since Nov. 15.

Reimer is 0-3-0 with a 3.96 GAA and .877 save percentage in four career starts versus the Red Wings, while Bernier is 3-2-2 against them with a 2.51 GAA and .917 save percentage in nine games (6 starts).