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Red Wings look to improve NHL's best record against Wild

Dec 7, 2007 - 2:33 PM Minnesota (15-10-2) at Detroit (19-6-2) 7:30 pm EST

DETROIT (Ticker) - The Detroit Red Wings, first overall in the NHL with 19 victories and 40 points, look to extend their winning streak to five on Friday against Minnesota.

The Red Wings, an league-best 11-2-0 at home, have won their last four games here. Friday's game is the first of four regular-season meetings with the Wild, owners of a 5-5-2 road mark.

Detroit is coming off a 4-1 road victory over Montreal on Tuesday. Pavel Datsyuk scored a pair of unassisted goals for the Red Wings. Dominik Hasek stopped 15 shots and Niklas Kronwall and Henrik Zetterberg also scored for Detroit, which went 3-1-0 against Minnesota last season. The Red Wings won both games at home last season by identical 3-1 scores.

Detroit is again expected to be without the services of Kirk Maltby (back) and Kris Draper (knee).

The Wild had their four-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday with a 3-1 home loss to Philadelphia. Minnesota was limited to just one power play goal in eight opportunities, including a pair of extended two-man advantages. Pavol Demitra scored for the Wild and Niklas Backstrom made 22 saves.

Minnesota captain Mark Parrish (hip) has missed the last three games. Defenseman Nick Schultz was hit in the throat by a puck in the first period of the loss to Philadelphia and will not be with the team for Friday's game.