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Slumping Red Wings host Blue Jackets

Feb 15, 2008 - 1:15 PM Columbus (26-24-9) at Detroit (41-13-5) 7:30 pm EST

DETROIT (Ticker) - It is hard to believe a team with an NHL-best 41 wins is in a slump, but that is the case for the Detroit Red Wings.

The Red Wings look to snap a season-high four-game losing streak when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.

Detroit completed a season-high eight-game win streak with a 3-2 overtime victory against the Minnesota Wild on February 5. Since then, the Red Wings have gone 0-3-1, including a 4-2 setback to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.

Despite the recent slide, Detroit still has an NHL-best 87 points and owns 12-point lead atop the Western Conference standings.

The Blue Jackets enter Friday's contest on a losing streak of their own, posting a 0-1-2 record over their last three games. Columbus couldn't break out of its slump on Wednesday, suffering a 7-2 setback to the lowly Chicago Blackhawks.

The loss was Columbus' seventh in its last eight games, including three that have gone beyond regulation. The Blue Jackets have been outscored 31-15 during that stretch.

Fredrik Norrena got the start in goal against the Blackhawks and was relieved by Pascal Leclaire in the opening period after making just one save on four shots. But Leclaire, who was battling the flu, lasted only until the end of the first, allowing one goal on three shots, before Norrena was put back in net.