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Red Wings look for third straight win

Nov 17, 2008 - 2:18 PM Edmonton (8-7-2) at Detroit (11-2-3), 7:30 pm EST

DETROIT (Ticker) -- The Detroit Red Wings have claimed they are not happy with their play thus far. A recent string of success may force them to change that opinion.

Looking for their fifth win in six games, the Red Wings host the Edmonton Oilers in a battle of Western Conference foes Monday.

During their recent hot stretch, the Red Wings' lone blemish came against the Pittsburgh Penguins, a 7-6 overtime loss on November 11. In that contest, they squandered a three-goal lead in the third period and fizzled against the team they thwarted in the Stanley Cup Finals last season.

"It's uncharacteristic, the way we've been playing without the puck in our own zone," Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood told the Detroit Free Press after the loss. "Are we going to play like this in April? No, I 100 percent guarantee that.

"When you look back on these games, it'll probably be a good thing for us. They taught us a lesson, slapped us down a bit."

Osgood will be in goal for Monday's game after sitting in favor of backup Ty Conklin in Detroit's 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Friday.

The 35-year-old Osgood earned his 370th career victory in a 3-2 win in Tampa Bay on Thursday, passing Tom Barrasso for 14th place on the all-time list. He needs two more to tie Andy Moog for 13th.

Osgood's 7-1-3 record this season disguises that he is struggling with a 3.31 goals-against average.

"Just tired of letting in three goals," Osgood told the Free Press. "You like winning. Winning is great and our record is good, but it comes to a point where you get frustrated and enough is enough."

Osgood will have a golden opportunity to sort out his troubles against the Oilers, who have dropped two straight games and four of their last six. They have been quiet on offense, scoring nine goals in the last four contests.

Edmonton is coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday after falling, 5-2, to the Toronto Maple Leafs two days earlier.