Predators 2 - 5 Red Wings
Final
  for this game

Red Wings return home to battle Predators

Jan 17, 2015 - 3:28 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Detroit Red Wings return to Joe Louis Arena Saturday night on the heels of a successful road trip to take on the Nashville Predators.

The Red Wings capped off a six-game swing at 4-2-0 thanks to a last-second victory over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday. Pavel Datsyuk notched the winning goal with 2.2 seconds left in overtime for a 3-2 final.

Datsyuk fired away from the inner arc of the left circle and his rising shot caught the crook between Brian Elliott's arm and body, then squeezed through and rippled the net inside the near post.

Joakim Andersson and Tomas Tatar scored a minute apart in the second period to break open a scoreless game, but Blues scored twice in the third frame to even the score. Andersson's tally was his first of the season.

Petr Mrazek made 25 saves for Detroit, which has won seven of its past 10 to pull into a tie with the Montreal Canadiens for second place in the Atlantic Division.

"It was huge to get both points here," Andersson said. "We're happy to get two points from (the Blues)."

The Red Wings will host the Sabres on Sunday and it is unknown if Mrazek and Thomas McCollum will split the starts with Jimmy Howard out due to a groin tear. Mrazek has never faced the Predators, while McCollum has appeared in just one career NHL game. That was a 15-minute relief appearance on March 30, 2011.

Detroit has won four of its past six at home versus Nashville, though the Predators won both meetings last season.

The streaking Preds come in having won a season-high five straight games and leading the Central Division by six points over the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues. Their 64 points also are tied with the Anaheim Ducks for most in the NHL.

Nashville put together its first five-game winning streak since Jan. 19-31, 2012 by beating former head coach Barry Trotz and the Washington Capitals 4-3 on Friday night. James Neal capped a rally with his second goal of the game with 1:40 to play.

Nashville overcame a 3-2 deficit by scoring twice in the final 4 1/2 minutes, with Mattias Ekholm netting the equalizer on a power play.

"I felt like we stuck with it throughout the night," Neal said. "We responded every time we gave something up. I loved the way the guys battled back at the end."

Seth Jones added a goal and an assist for Nashville, while Carter Hutton came up with 31 saves in his first start since the Predators announced standout goaltender Pekka Rinne would miss 3-to-5 weeks with a sprained knee.

The Predators next look to win six in a row for the first time since March 17-26, 2011.






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