The Wings had the upper hand in the last meeting (AP, Jerry Mendoza)
The Detroit Wings have moved to within one point of the San Jose Sharks as the two teams are set to faceoff on Saturday night in San Jose.
Had the Wings held off the Dallas Stars on Monday night, a game the Stars tied with three minutes remaining and then won 5-4 in overtime, the Wings and Sharks would be tied for first in the Western Conference heading into Saturday’s game. Regardless of Monday’s outcome a regulation win on Saturday and the result will be the same, the Red Wings will move into first place, or the Sharks will maintain the top spot.
Keep in mind the Sharks do have a game in hand, however there has to be a psychological factor of being passed and turning that extra game into a must win situation.
The Wings are on a roll, having lost just once in regulation time since a 3-2 loss to the Predators in Nashville on December 26, and have gained six points on the Sharks since that game.
“Momentum is only as good as the next day,” said the Wings coach Mike Babcock during the team’s three game home stand last week.
The teams have split the two previous match ups this season each winning on home ice. The Wings won the most recent game 6-0, on December 18.
For more on this big match up check out my fellow Red Wings Examiner Lamar Tidwell for his thoughts
Mr. Zero
With all due respect to Frank Brimsek, the real Mr. Zero, I am going to borrow his nickname and apply it to Ty Conklin.
Conklin made 23 saves on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Kings to record his fifth shutout this season in just 22 appearances. A shutout for roughly every four starts
To put that into perspective prior to this season Conklin had appeared in 109 games and recorded four shutouts, or roughly one shutout for every 27 appearances.
And in an odd coincidence Conklin recorded 23 saves in his last shutout against Columbus on January 6th.
For more info: www.hhof.com, www.nhl.com. Also check out the San Jose Sharks Examiner Ryan Leong
Comments
I would of been a little nervous had we gone all this season top seed again, lol. I like it right where we are but I'll take top seed too if it's mean't to be. The win saturday is important to both teams if they want to lead but which ever way it goes I'll still be happy with the redwings. They are doing awesomely even though with a bit of a struggle at times. Ty Conklin is amazing as well. I'll be watching on 'Center Ice'. Go Wings Go!!
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