The Anaheim Ducks can put an enormous feather in their cap by kicking off their eight-game road trip with a victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday. Detroit has been invincible at home over the last three months, winning 18 in a row to put it within two of matching the NHL record. SportsOptions.com offers their insight with a betting preview and free pick.
Anaheim at Detroit(-170, 5.5 ev)
When: 7:30 PM ET, Friday, February 10, 2012
Where: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan
THE STORY: The Red Wings, who began their six-game homestand with a win over Edmonton on Wednesday, are 21-2-1 at Joe Louis Arena this season. The Ducks are 4-1-2 over their last seven road contests and have earned at least one point in 13 of their last 15 overall (11-2-2).
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Anaheim), FSN (Detroit), NHL Network
ABOUT THE DUCKS (21-24-8): Teemu Selanne was kept off the scoresheet Wednesday in the overtime win over Carolina, keeping him from climbing several all-time lists. The “Finnish Flash” needs one goal to pull even with Brendan Shanahan (656) for 12th place and is one point away from tying Brett Hull (1,391) for 21st. Selanne is four points behind Luc Robitaille for 20th on the all-time list. G Dan Ellis remains out indefinitely with a torn groin muscle but began skating on Wednesday. He is expected to start a stretching program next week. Ellis, who is 1-5-0 in 10 appearances this season, has not played since Dec. 29.
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (36-17-2): Tomas Holmstrom will be playing in his 1,000th career game – all with Detroit. The Swede will become the sixth player in franchise history to appear in 1,000 contests with the club and second current member of the Red Wings. The other is captain Nicklas Lidstrom, who will tie Alex Delvecchio on Friday for the franchise lead in games played by appearing in his 1,549th contest. Dan Cleary is likely to miss a few games as he’s elected to have his left knee drained. Cleary left Wednesday’s win over Edmonton in the third period after being hit by Ben Eager.
OVERTIME:
1. The league record for consecutive home wins is 20 set by the 1929-30 Boston Bruins and matched by the 1975-76 Philadelphia Flyers.
2. The Ducks are just 1-15-1 when trailing after one period.
3. Detroit is 5-0-1 in its last six meetings with Anaheim, which has been shut out three times and scored only two goals in each of the other two losses.
PREDICTION: Red Wings 5, Ducks 2.
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