Wings seek third straight victory Sunday

Wings seek third straight victory Sunday

Published Dec. 7, 2014 9:59 a.m. ET
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The Detroit Red Wings have quickly started another win streak after having their longest of the season snapped and will seek to keep that run going in one of their few road games in a span of three-plus weeks.

The Red Wings will try to secure a third consecutive victory and fourth in the last five road contests Sunday by adding to the Carolina Hurricanes' recent woes at home (4:30 p.m. pregame, 5 p.m. face-off on FOX Sports Detroit PLUS).

Detroit (16-6-5) had a four-game win streak snapped with a 4-3 loss to Florida on Tuesday but bounced back to handle Dallas in a 5-2 win two days later then rallied for a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Saturday.

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The Red Wings trailed 2-0 after one period in their finale of a four-game homestand. They tied the game with two goals in a 1:11 span in the second period, and Darren Helm tallied the tiebreaker with 12:20 left, his third in two contests.

"That was huge. It showed a lot of character by our guys, a lot of heart," goaltender Jimmy Howard said. "We found a way. That's all that matters."

The Red Wings will next play one of their two road games until after Christmas with their first matchup against Carolina this season. They'll visit Toronto for their other one on Dec. 13.

Detroit will face a team that's coming off its fourth loss in five home games, 2-1 to Washington on Thursday, and the Hurricanes (8-14-3) have scored six goals in that span. They're producing 2.0 per game during an 3-8-0 overall stretch that's dropped them to the bottom of the Eastern Conference, one point behind Buffalo and Columbus.

"Obviously, we're in a little bit of a hole we've got to climb out of," captain Eric Staal said.

Alexander Semin scored the lone goal - his first of the season - in the third period of Thursday's loss and recorded his 500th career point. The Hurricanes, though, gave up the go-ahead one with 4:02 remaining.

"We need to learn and manage the puck better in certain situations and be aware of the time in the game," coach Bill Peters said.

Carolina snapped a three-game losing streak to Detroit with a 2-1 home win April 11. The Red Wings took two of three in last season's series with every game decided by one goal and have taken six of the last eight meetings.

Henrik Zetterberg has three goals and four assists in his last three games against Carolina but missed the latest meeting after undergoing back surgery in February. He has eight goals and six assists in his last nine matchups.

Zetterberg, though, has one of his five goals this season in his last 15 contests, but has tallied five assists in the past five.

Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward is listed as probable after missing one game due to a lower-body injury. Ward, who has allowed a combined four goals in his last three starts, is 1-1-1 with a 1.64 goals-against average in three career home starts against Detroit and 2-1-1 with a 2.23 GAA in his last four overall.

With Howard playing Saturday, the Red Wings could give Petr Mrazek his first start versus Carolina, but Howard has posted a 1.99 GAA in four career starts against the Hurricanes, going 2-2-0.

Mrazek has won in both of his appearances this season despite a gaudy 3.36 GAA.

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