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Ellis, Predators hope to continue surge toward playoffs

Mar 30, 2008 - 10:24 AM Nashville (39-31-8) at Detroit (51-20-7) 3:00 pm EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) -- The Nashville Predators have a lot riding on their final four games of the season, while the Detroit Red Wings are on the verge of clinching their fourth Presidents' Trophy in six seasons.

The Predators attempt to win their fourth straight game and help their postseason hopes when they visit the Red Wings on Sunday.

Nashville (39-31-8) currently is even in points with Vancouver (38-30-10) and Edmonton (40-34-6) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Both the Predators and Canucks have four games remaining, while the Oilers play just two more times.

Dan Ellis has recorded back-to-back shutouts for the Predators, stopping 43 shots in Thursday's 2-0 victory over Columbus that completed a sweep of their home-and-home series. Ellis also made 36 saves in a 3-0 blanking of the Blue Jackets on Tuesday.

The Red Wings are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues on Friday, a setback that snapped their four-game winning streak.

Despite the loss, Detroit (51-20-7) still leads the streaking San Jose Sharks (47-21-10) by five points in the race for the top spot in the league with four games to play.

In Friday's defeat, Johan Franzen scored two goals for Detroit, marking the fourth straight contest in which the center has scored. The Swede has netted 13 of his 25 tallies this season in his last 12 games.

The Red Wings, who are 4-3-0 against the Predators this campaign, posted a 6-3 victory over Nashville on March 20 in the most recent meeting. That setback also was the last time the Predators have lost.