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Streaking Sharks meet slumping Red Wings

Oct 25, 2006 - 2:41 PM San Jose (7-2-0) at Detroit (3-4-1) 7:30 pm EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) -- It is only one game, but perhaps Wednesday's matchup between the San Jose Sharks and the Detroit Red Wings could signify the changing of the guard in the Western Conference.

The surging Sharks, winners of four of their last five games, have been solid this season while the Red Wings, last season's President's Trophy winners, have lost three straight.

San Jose got its five-game road trip off to a good start with a 3-0 triumph over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday.

Sharks goaltender Vesa Toskala won his 12th straight game dating back to last season and recorded his fifth career shutout in making 23 saves. Toskala is 5-0-0 with a 1.99 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage this season.

Steve Bernier, Jonathan Cheechoo and Marcel Goc all scored for the Sharks, who went 2-for-8 on the power play.

Detroit, which has been outscored, 12-3, during its skid, will try to rebound from a 3-1 loss to Edmonton on Saturday. Pavel Datsyuk scored the lone goal for the Red Wings, who were 0-for-5 with the extra skater while Dominik Hasek allowed three goals on 24 shots.

Hasek has struggled so far this season, going 2-3-2 with a 2.32 GAA and a .886 save percentage.

A reason Detroit has struggled is its inept power play. The Red Wings are only 4-for-46 (8.7 percent) this season.

Patrick Marleau scored two goals as San Jose whipped Detroit, 5-1, at home on Thursday. The Sharks went 5-for-13 on the power play.