#LGRW Daily: Red Wings look to even season series with Predators

DETROIT -- On Easter Sunday, the Detroit Red Wings accomplished something they hadn't done in more than 10 years when they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning on the road.

Two days later, the Red Wings return to Little Caesars Arena ice for the first time in nine days, looking to continue the momentum as they wrap up the season series with the Nashville Predators, starting Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.
The Wings (13-22-5, 31 points) are 2-4 against the Predators (20-18-1, 41 points) this season, and Detroit hopes to slow down Nashville, which comes into the series winning seven of its last eight games. That streak features two wins against the Red Wings, including a 7-1 victory the last time the clubs met on March 25.
Red Wings forward Darren Helm said the poor performance against Nashville was a bit of a wakeup call for Detroit, and said he's happy with the way the club has responded since.
"It was pretty embarrassing the way we came out and fell flat," Helm said before Tuesday's series opener. "We wanted to prove to ourselves that we could play a lot better, and we've put a couple good games together (since). We've been working pretty good as a group and we need that kind of effort. It's a proud group in there so we want to compete and work hard every night."

Wings coach Jeff Blashill agreed with Helm about his club's improvement over the last six games.
"When we've been healthy, we've been a pretty good team," Blashill said. "I think we've been fairly good defensively in most facets of the game. We've been better here in the last little bit."
But Blashill said his team can't be satisfied with earning seven of 12 possible points in their last six games. He said the Red Wings need to bring their best effort every night, starting Tuesday against Nashville.
"It's an every-game league, so you better show up every night and play to the very best of your ability," the Wings' coach said. "We've got to make sure we're showing up every night and playing as close to our best as humanly possible. (Predators coach) John Hynes has done an excellent job with this team. We'll have our hands full tonight."
Fans can catch Tuesday's series opener starting at 7:30 p.m. ET on the new Bally Sports Detroit Plus or on 97.1 The Ticket.

Red Wings Storylines

• Red Wings power forward Anthony Mantha has started to heat up lately, earning five points in his last six games, including a two-assist performance in Sunday's win over the Lightning. After a slow offensive start to the season, Mantha now leads Detroit forwards in points with 20, and he'll look to break out of a slump against the Predators, after not earning a point in the last four matchups with Nashville.

• Defenseman Filip Hronek has been Detroit's most consistent blueliner all season, leading the club with 22 points. Hronek earned 11 points in 13 games in March, including his first two goals of the season -- both on 200-foot empty netters. The defenseman has three points against the Predators this season, but like Mantha, Hronek hasn't scratched the scoresheet in the last four matchups.
• Goaltender Thomas Greiss earned his third win of the season on Easter Sunday after receiving much-needed goal support from his teammates. Greiss has struggled against Nashville this season, going 0-3 with a 3.89 goals-against average, but with Jonathan Bernier's status still unclear after suffering a lower-body injury on March 18, Greiss will looks to continue his momentum and take advantage of increased ice time.

Scouting the Predators

• With leading scorer Filip Forsberg out since March 25, center Calle Jarnkrok has had to pick up the slack for the Predators offensively. Jarnkrok is third on the Predators with 19 points, including four points in his last four games. But the former Red Wings draft pick has struggled against the team that selected him in 2010, earning only one point in six games against Detroit this season--tied for his lowest output against any opponent this year.
• Despite missing seven games this season, defenseman Roman Josi has been by far the most productive Predators blueliner all year. Josi leads Nashville defensemen with 22 points this season and he's been trouble for the Red Wings, earning eight points in six games against Detroit--good for four more points than he has against any other opponent this year.
• After platooning at almost a 50-50 clip this season with Pekka Rinne, goaltender Juuse Saros has earned the bulk of the work in net for the Predator lately, starting six of the last seven games. Saros has won five of his last six starts, including two straight victories over the Red Wings in which he allowed only one goal on 52 shots