#LGRW Daily: Detroit looks to keep momentum going in series vs. Carolina

DETROIT --Last week, the Detroit Red Wings stared down the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning and earned three-of the possible four points, including a win in regulation for the first time since Nov. 3, 2015 in Thursday's series finale. In order to extend the point streak, host Detroit will need to continue its recent solid play against another Cup contender.

Currently on a seven-game winning streak, the Carolina Hurricanes are set to visit the Red Wings for the first of a two-game series, beginning Sunday afternoon (FOX Sports Detroit, 97.1 The Ticket). The puck will drop at 5 p.m. in recognition of Little Caesars' $5 Hot-N-Ready Classic Pizza -- and conclude on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.
"They're similar to Tampa, in a sense, they've got two and three, four really good defensemen on the back end," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "They're all on the same page in how they play. It's an aggressive style, there's no in-between and they play on the same page. So, they're an excellent hockey team, they're one of the best in the league without a doubt."

According to forward Vladislav Namestikov, the Red Wings are continuing to focus on internal improvements and finding winning consistency.
"I feel like we just have to focus on the way we play," Namestnikov said. "We're slowly kind of starting to figure out how to win the tough games and I thought the last couple of weeks we've played really well. So hopefully we can continue and kind of get on a streak here."
With the shortened 56-game season at the halfway point, Detroit is as healthy as it has been since early-February. Blashill is hopeful the second half of the regular season will bear the recent results they have achieved when playing with a healthy lineup.
"Well, when you look at our record, I think if you take away the stretch where we missed five guys because of COVID, I think the record looks a lot better," Blashill said. "That gives you hope that you can continue that moving forward. I think we lost the three games without [Dylan] Larkin, he's a big piece. Sometimes it's not the number of guys you're missing, but what pieces.

Red Wings Storylines

• Dylan Larkin returned to the lineup last Tuesday and immediately showed he was past his upper-body injury, scoring in both games of the series against Tampa Bay. Five of his six goals this season have come at Little Caesars Arena, including a two-goal effort in a 4-2 win over Carolina on Jan. 16.
• Filip Hronek took over the team lead in points with his back-to-back two-assist games in the series against the Lightning. His 14 assists on the season are tied for seventh-most among all NHL defensemen, and he also leads the Red Wings in minutes played, averaging 23:41 per game.
• Jonathan Bernier has excelled at home this season, posting a 5-2 record with a goals-against average of 2.24 and a save percentage of .935 at Little Caesars Arena. In the two losses he has suffered at home, the Red Wings were shutout, and he allowed just three combined goals.

Scouting the Hurricanes

• One of the strengths for the Hurricanes this season is their depth at center. Sebastian Aho, Vincent Trocheck and Jordan Staal are Carolina's leading scorers, and boast face-off percentages over 53 percent. The trio has scored six game-winning goals this season.
• On defense, Dougie Hamilton leads the way for Carolina, putting up 20 points -- tied for fourth in the NHL among defensemen -- including 12 points on the power play.
• James Reimer has been the workhorse in net for Carolina this season with usual starter, and former Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek, out with an injury. Reimer is tied for fourth in the NHL in wins this season with 12, and currently is on a four-game winning streak.