Detroit Red Wings: Hot Wings Face Cold Blues Tonight, So Expect Some Steam

Things couldn't be going much better in Hockeytown these days.

With the Red Wings in the middle of a six-game home-stand that has seen them go 3-0, Jiri Hudler getting of the schnied after an early season slump, and the emergence of red-hot scorers in Todd Bertuzzi and Danny Cleary—all systems are go in Detroit.

However, as for their opponent tonight, what was a blistering-hot start to the season has cooled into a four-game losing skid.

The Blues' most important player, goal-tender Jaroslav Halak, began his first season with St. Louis as stingy as a five-year-old with an ice-cream cone, posting three shut-outs in his first 10 games as a Blue Note.

Since then, he's slumped to an 0-2-1 record and a obese 4.81 GAA.

Such numbers are not at all typical to Halak which makes each game he plays, including tonight's against Detroit, a potential break-out game.

In addition to Halak's struggles, the Blues will be playing their fourth game without their second-leading scorer and physical power-house that is TJ Oshie.

Oshie suffered a broken ankle a week ago against Columbus and will be out of the line-up for the next few months.

What does all this mean?

Well, when you've got a high-flying, red-hot team like Detroit collide with a slumping, ice-cold team like the Blues, what you typically get is a pretty stormy and steamy affair on the ice that could see either team emerge with the "W".

The Wings can certainly beat this Blues team tonight and extend their win-streak to four, but look for a desperate and hungry St. Louis squad to make doing so a difficult and frustrating task.

Here's what else to keep an eye out for tonight.

The Mule is due for a big kick

Johan Franzen has just one goal in his last seven games. 

Granted his last was two games ago against Edmonton and represented the power-forward's 100th in the NHL, however, he's due to for a scoring streak.

He will be skating with Valtteri Filppula and Jiri Hudler for the second straight game, a line that has shown some considerable offensive promise.  So, look for Franzen to body his way to the net and seek a nice set up pass from either Filppula or Hudler early and often tonight.

Doing so might just net him goal No. 101.

Big E and Rafi should continue to be a dynamic duo

Since being put together three games ago, Jonathan Ericsson and Brian Rafalski haven't exactly been lighting up on the stat sheet (they have just one assist between them in that time), but, that doesn't mean they haven't been an effective defensive duo.

After struggling through a disappointing season last year, Ericsson seems to have rediscovered his defensive prowess playing along side the veteran Rafalksi.

Both have provided the Wings with a steady and mobile second pairing and Ericsson especially has been more and more comfortable using his 6' 4" frame to his advantage against opposing forwards.

The physical Blues forward should provide a tough challenge for the duo, but their play of late suggests they'll shine bright tonight.

Tonight represents a big off-ice milestone

Tonight's game will be GM Ken Holland's 1000 as the Wings' front-office boss.  Additionally, to date, the Wings have won 599 of those games, so, a win tonight would give Holland a .600 winning percentage over his tenure.

They give players a silver stick for playing their 1000 game in the league, what do they give GMs?

Maybe a silver phone would be appropriate in Holland's case, for no GM in the league has made better use of that device than he has over the past 13 seasons.

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