DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins are a study in contrasts.
The teams play Saturday night at Joe Louis Arena at 7 p.m.
Detroit is 6-2-0 and on a six-game winning streak after a 2-1 shootout road win against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night.
Boston is 3-4-0 and on a three-game losing skid after a 5-2 setback to the New York Rangers Wednesday night at Joe Louis Arena.
The Red Wings last won six in a row from Jan. 13-27, 2015.
Captain and forward Henrik Zetterberg's goal in the eighth round of the shootout on Thursday gave Detroit the win over the Blues. Right winger Gustav Nyquist also scored in the shootout.
Goalie Petr Mrazek made 31 saves in regulation before only allowing a goal to the first shooter in the shootout.
"He was awesome. Like I said for 30 (minutes) we didn't play well and he kept us in," said Red Wings center Frans Nielsen, who scored a shorthanded goal in regulation. "He gave us a chance to win it. He was the best player on the ice again."
Left winger Justin Abdelkader returned Thursday after missing two games with a lower-body injury, but left winger Thomas Vanek did not play because of a lower-body injury and is day-to-day, Detroit general manager Ken Holland told www.mlive.com.
Injuries are a big part of Boston's issues.
Star center Patrice Bergeron (lower-body injury), goalies Tuukka Rask (lower-body injury) and Anton Khudobin (hand/wrist/arm) and right winger David Backes (elbow) are all on the injured list. Rask did practice on Friday.
"(Rask) practiced today, and he's coming on the trip. So we'll see," Bruins coach Claude Julien said on www.chowderandchampions.com. "He's feeling good, so we'll go day-by-day. He practiced well today and if he's good tomorrow then there are no issues there. He looked good to me today, so we'll make that decision.
"We've gone this far with him, so we're going to make sure we make the right decision, and not the reckless one."
Malcolm Subban and Zane McIntyre have been handling the goaltending chores. One is likely to be sent down to the Bruins' American Hockey League affiliate in Providence before Saturday night's game.
Also, Boston forward David Pastrnak on Friday was suspended for two games for an illegal check to the head of New York Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Pastrnak, who has five goals and eight points and is plus-7 in seven games, will also miss Tuesday's game against the Florida Panthers. He is second on the team in points to left winger Brad Marchand, who has three goals and 10 points in seven games.
Vanek and Nyquist are tied for Detroit's point lead with eight each. Vanek has four goals in seven games and Nyquist three goals in eight games.
Center Darren Helm has four goals and seven points and is a team-leading plus-10 in eight games while defenseman Mike Green has three goals and four assists in eight games.
