[Bad Czech Pun]

Last 10 -- Sharks 8-2-0; Red Wings 5-2-3

Season series -- This is the first of four meetings this season. In 2008-09, each team won both games on its home ice. Ryan Clowe and Milan Michalek led the Sharks with a goal and 4 assists each. Marian Hossa (4-3) and Pavel Datsyuk (2-5) paced the Red Wings with 7 points apiece. Detroit outscored San Jose 17-11 in the series despite being outshot 133-122.

Big story -- It's a matchup of the last two Presidents' Trophy-winning teams, and while the Sharks are humming along toward a repeat with six consecutive wins, the Red Wings have not yet displayed the dominant form that has made them one of the NHL's powerhouses of the last decade.

Team scope

Sharks -- The Sharks are looking for a sweep of their three-game road trip after winning 6-1 at Carolina on Sunday and 3-2 in a shootout at Columbus on Wednesday. They've won six in a row and are 7-4-0 on the road.

In fact, the Sharks learned they have a new fan in Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock, who told the Columbus Dispatch prior to their meeting on Wednesday: "There's a reason they win. It's not because they have a lock on the talent. It's because they play the game the right way."

"I respect Hitch's comments, but we're not that way all the time," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "We have our warts. We try to work through them just like every other team."

The San Jose way has led them to second place in the Western Conference with a conference-high 55 goals while permitting only 40.

Red Wings -- This is the second game in a two-game homestand for Detroit, which began with a 2-0 victory against Boston on Tuesday. The Red Wings are 4-1-1 at home, and have won three of their last four overall.

With a 29-save shutout against the Bruins, Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood has allowed only one goal in his last two starts. "I don't put much merit in shutouts, I don't know why, I never have," Osgood said. "The only thing they're good for is that you know you have a great chance of winning a game if you get one. ... I've said numerous times, I just remember watching (Hall of Famer) Grant Fuhr play, and it was just about winning games. And that's my mentality -- just to win."

With defensemen Brian Rafalski and Jonathan Ericsson missing Tuesday's game due to illness, the Red Wings inserted Doug Janik into the lineup. He had 1 goal and 5 assists in 10 games with Grand Rapids of the AHL. Rafalski and Ericsson are expected to return tonight.

Who's hot -- For the Sharks, Patrick Marleau has 6 goals and 10 assists in his last nine games, Ryane Clowe has a goal and 4 assists in his last three games, Dany Heatley has 2 goals and an assist in his last three games. Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk has 2 goals and 6 assists in his last four games, Darren Helm has a goal and 2 assists in his last two games, Brad Stuart has a goal and an assist in his last two games, and Kris Draper has 2 assists in his last two games.

Injury report -- For the Sharks, centers Joe Pavelski (lower-body) and Torrey Mitchell (leg) are on injured reserve, and right wing Devin Setoguchi (lower-body) and forward Ryan Vesce (lower-body) are day-to-day. Defenseman Rob Blake left Wednesday's game in the second period and did not return. For the Red Wings, defenseman Andreas Lilja (concussion) and forwards Valtteri Filppula (wrist) and Johan Franzen (knee) are on injured reserve, and winger Brad May (eye) and defensemen Rafalski (flu) and Ericsson (flu) are day-to-day.

Stat pack -- Sharks goaltender Evgeni Nabokov was named the NHL's Third Star for the week ending Nov. 1. He posted a 3-0-0 record with a 0.97 goals-against average and .963 save percentage, helping the Sharks climb to first place in Pacific Division. Nabokov stopped 28 shots and five of six shootout attempts in a 2-1 victory against Los Angeles on Oct. 28, made 24 saves in a 3-1 victory against Colorado on Oct. 30, and finished the week with a 25-save effort in a 5-1 victory against Carolina on Nov. 1.

Puck drop -- "When you have done a lot of winning as a coach or a player you have some confidence that you know what should happen. Instead of changing your plan and deviating, you tend to be steady on the rudder and you just keep going." - Detroit coach Mike Babcock on his team's prospects for improved play in November

[sirmonkey]

mmm back to back hockey.. WOOT!..

btw why dont the sharks just leave mcginn up? i mean seriously the guys proven himself time and time again that he deserves to stick with the team for more then just a couple games then sent back down..

[StrayShark]

GO SHARKS!!!

This is a tough one after playing last night, but hopefully they can keep on going.

[netman]

Originally Posted by sirmonkey

mmm back to back hockey.. WOOT!..

btw why dont the sharks just leave mcginn up? i mean seriously the guys proven himself time and time again that he deserves to stick with the team for more then just a couple games then sent back down..

Cap, cap, salary cap. Every day that McGinn and Couture spend technically assigned to Worcester is another day of $12-13K less total salary counting against the cap. Think "flexibility later in the season".

[griffith_bob]

I'll be at this one!
Sharks 5-3

[68 Z-28]

Originally Posted by sirmonkey

mmm back to back hockey.. WOOT!..

btw why dont the sharks just leave mcginn up? i mean seriously the guys proven himself time and time again that he deserves to stick with the team for more then just a couple games then sent back down..

I guess you missed him and his 15:57 of Ice time lastnight?

[Teal Town USA]

we got the momentum. its the wingys that should be shakin in their boots.

go sharks!

[SharkieFan]

Originally Posted by Teal Town USA

we got the momentum. its the wingys that should be shakin in their boots.

go sharks!

Always a tough test to play at Hell aka Joe Louis Arena.

[darkstar10]

The Sharks have won their last six games and the Wings have won three of their last four. Hopefully the Sharks put in at least one more than the Wings.

4
3

[Pithofheat]

GO SHARKS GO!

Time to eat some wings for dinner!

what do you think the D pairings should and will be?

Boyle-Murray
Vlasic-Joslin
Huskins-Demers

[Nice_Ice]

Originally Posted by Pithofheat

GO SHARKS GO!

Time to eat some wings for dinner!

what do you think the D pairings should and will be?

Boyle-Murray
Vlasic-Joslin
Huskins-Demers

That's probably what I would do. What coach does is based on better information.

[YouGotBoyled]

5-3 Sharks

[sirmonkey]

Originally Posted by netman

Cap, cap, salary cap. Every day that McGinn and Couture spend technically assigned to Worcester is another day of $12-13K less total salary counting against the cap. Think "flexibility later in the season".

ahh.. didnt know their salary effected the cap while they were up..

[Kingshark49]

I won't make a prediction, but I'm sure the Sharks have too many long memories of games past in Detroit. Last season, two games, two humiliations. That should be more than enough motivation for the men in teal right there. Hopefully the Sharks can pull this one out or at least give the Wings one helluva fight. This should be a good one...


GO SHARKS!!!!!!!

[incorporeal_x]

Officials for today

Referees:
#6 Dan Marouelli
#4 Wes McCauley

Linesmen:
#55 Shane Heyer
#95 Jonny Murray

Not too excited about Mirouelli again

[Bad Czech Pun]

Due to the recent changes (according to Pollak, Callahan has also been recalled), I'm curious to see the lines. Would someone be able to post them once the game has started? I'm radio-only until probably the third. Thanks!

[jnloliveira]

Go Sharks!

[Kniff]

Nabby playing back to back

the Sharks winning odds are better then the over 5.5

[Kniff]

I want to see someone run thru Dave and Busters while they are live and grab the puck on the table....

[Bad Czech Pun]

Jamie gave us the following stat:

Malhotra has scored 8 goals on Osgood in 25 games.
The highest number of goals he has scored on any other goalie is 4.