Today's the day. Can Detroit tie the all-time record for most consecutive victories at home? If they want to do this, they're going to have to beat the last organization to have done it (36 years ago), the Philadelphia Flyers.

This is a team coming off an aggravating home loss to the New York Rangers (against whom they are 0-5 this season). The Flyer's allowed three power play goals to the Eastern-leading Rangers and Kimmo Timonen was none too happy about the effort level from the Orange Shirts.

Expect a much better effort level out of Philadelphia tonight. This one's going to be tough, but tough is what the Red Wings do.

Comment away and let's go Red Wings.

While we're all getting amped up for next January, the battle for the Central continues to heat up. Sure, the Hawks might be struggling, but banking points to earn home ice is important. What would also be cool? Ending this pretender's hopes of crawling out of the basement and into the postseason.

Screw the Ducks.

Comment away and let's go Red Wings.

The Wings have lost two straight games for the first time since the middle of December, but it's been a culmination of getting away with some less-than-inspiring play that's finally fallen off rather than a complete disappearance of their game. As Detroit starts to battle more injuries and fatigue, the tests get harder and the opponents get more desperate. Detroit will need to find a way to match their opponents' intensity.

For all rights and purposes, the Oilers are out of the playoff hunt. It's entirely possible that this young group will find a way to make up the 11-point gap currently sitting between them and 8th place, but the odds are against them. That doesn't mean for one second that the kids who deserved two points in regulation last Saturday aren't going to be motivated to end Detroit's home winning streak.

The Wings have looked like they did at the end of October lately. Let's hope they don't take as long to snap out of it this time.

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Total guess on the starting goaltenders for tonight based on what I think Phoenix will do and what I hope Detroit will.

The Wings have to get their special teams figured out and have to stop dragging games to the shootout. Phoenix is four points and four spots out of the playoffs right now; you know they're going to play hard.

Cry "Havoc!" and let's go Red Wings.

Detroit looks to stay successful on their western Canada road trip with a visit to Edmonton for a Saturday tilt against the Edmonton Oilers. This squad did us a favor on Thursday by beating up on the Chicago Blackhawks 8-4 in Sam Gagner's 8-point night. Without Jimmy Howard in net, Detroit's going to be looking to avoid the same fate.

The same effort put forth against Edmonton as they had against Vancouver on Thursday should yield positive results. They're going to have to play tight and watch out for the speedy counterattack. Pressure Edmonton's defense and get shots on net.

Comment away and let's go Red Wings.

If the Red Wings want to pull above .500 on the road, they're going to have a hell of a test in front of them to do it. The Canucks are one of the best teams in the league and sit just behind Detroit in both points and goal differential. Wannabe contender teams might want to watch this matchup to see what real championship-caliber teams are made of (and make no mistake, for all of the grief about Luongo not being able to win the big games and all of the fun we've had at the expense of the Canucks losing the finals, it's 100% true that this is a team that CAN win a cup).

Vancouver handed Detroit a loss in their building the last time these teams met in December while Kronwall handed Ryan Kesler a healthy dose of hitting. Tonight's game will be physical and will showcase the skill of two of the league's best teams. Let's hope this one doesn't suck.

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Detroit looks to rebound from a long break and an embarrassing loss to Mike Cammalleri's previous team with a strong performance against another Canadian foe and Mike Cammalleri's current team. Calgary is currently in the middle of a three-way tie at 52 standings points which has them officially in 11th place. Despite this seeming like a natural fit for them, their GM has told the fans that they're going to "go for it" and he's made several minimally important moves to trick people into believing that this team isn't going to be a deadline seller.

The next couple of weeks could go a long way toward deciding whether Jarome Iginla remains in Calgary. Let's start that journey off for them with a piece of evidence that points to "no".

Comment away and let's go Red Wings.

Detroit and Montreal play the only game on the schedule tonight as we head into the All-Star break. Detroit will rest sitting atop the league while Montreal has a chance to climb within 8 points of third place in the Northeast Division. Can the Habs really be as bad as they've looked? Will Detroit fall into a trap and finally lose a game?

Let's find out, shall we?

Comment away and let's go Red Wings.

16 home victories in a row for the Wings goes on the line Monday night. The Blues have been playing at a high level for long enough so that it may actually not be a fluke. They're going to want to prove they can skate with Detroit in game #5 between these two clubs this season. The home team has won all four of the previous games and a win tonight for Detroit guarantees no worse than a season series split.

A win tonight reminds these bitches that they may be allowed out of the basement in the Central Division house, but daddy's room is strictly off-limits.

Comment away and let's go Red Wings.

Detroit puts their 15-game home winning streak on the line against the Blue Jackets at the Joe Louis Arena tonight. These two teams haven't met since the Wings were in game #2 of a six-game slide early in the season. That was actually the Jackets' first win of the season and it happened more than two weeks in.

This is a trap game. It's like two teams in a box canyon with no way out.

Red should win; let's see if they do.

Comment away and let's go Red Wings.