The San Jose Sharks are getting set to host perhaps their biggest Western Conference rivals in the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday at the HP Pavilion. Detroit is coming into the Shark Tank with revenge on the mind in the second of two meetings between these teams after the Sharks took the first one. At the Joe Louis Arena on Oct. 28, Joe Thornton scored two goals, including the game-winner, to lift San Jose to a 4-2 win and further worsen Detroit's lengthy losing skid.
Though the Red Wings are coming off a loss in their last outing, a 2-1 affair to the resurgent St. Louis Blues, they've still outscored their opponents 19-6 in their last five games, four of which were wins and two of which were shutout victories for Jimmy Howard. That four-game winning streak before the St. Louis loss started with a 5-0 shutout of the Anaheim Ducks, which itself followed the six-game skid. On Tuesday, they expect to be without defenseman Ian White (broken collarbone) and Todd Bertuzzi, who is on IR with a sinus infection.
San Jose lost their last game, a 3-0 shutout at the hands of the Phoenix Coyotes at home. The Sharks out-shot the Coyotes through the second and third periods, but were unable to make a dent on Mike Smith, who was buoyed by the 2-0 first period lead his time provided him. Still, coming into that game, the Sharks had won eight of their last ten, and lost one of them in overtime, to the Nashville Predators on Nov. 5.
Both teams aren't happy about their last outing, and will look to renew hostilities in a big way to launch new winning streaks. Later in the week, on Saturday, the Sharks hit the road and will take on the Pacific Division-leading Dallas Stars. Tuesday's game against Detroit is set for 7:30 p.m. pacific and can be seen, as usual, on Comcast SportsNet California.