#LGRW Daily: Detroit looks to build on momentum as it hosts Dallas

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings ended the Carolina Hurricanes' eight-game winning streak on Tuesday, and now, the Red Wings are hoping to end another streak, as they face the Dallas Stars, who've defeated Detroit three games in a row.

Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said he thinks his team can build momentum from their recent success.
"Without a doubt," Blashill said about the momentum building. "The last Carolina game, they played good, we played good, the pace of the game was extremely fast. The way we played in that series and the way we've played in the last little bit is totally repeatable.
"Those are two of the best teams in the league, without a doubt, and I thought we went toe to toe with both those teams. If we play the right way, we'll put ourselves in position to win hockey games."

The Red Wings (9-17-4, 22 points) now turn their attention to the Stars (9-9-7, 25 points), hosting Dallas for the first time this season at Little Caesars Arena, beginning the two-game series Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.
The Stars won the first two matchups against the Red Wings this season, with a 2-1 overtime victory on January 26 and a 7-3 win on January 28.
Dallas had two significant delays to their schedule, missing the opening week of the season with a COVID-19 outbreak and then enduring an eight-day layoff due to the weather disaster in Texas. So the Stars are in the midst of playing four games per week the rest of the season, finishing their last 31 games in a 53-day span.
But Blashill said every NHL team has had to deal with their own issues this season, and his team can't afford to worry about Dallas' compacted schedule down the stretch.
"It's certainly difficult, there's no doubt about it," Blashill said. "But I think it was difficult for teams like us that played through the COVID issues. It is what it is. They've got to play the schedule."
The Red Wings have earned 15 of their 22 points this season at home this season, and as they wrap up their six-game homestand with the series against the Stars, defenseman Danny DeKeyser said the Wings have to continue grinding out 60 minutes of good hockey every night.
"It's been a few good games, a couple good series for us," DeKeyser said. "I just think that we know we have to play a full 60 (minutes). We know what our game is and the biggest thing is playing it for a full 60."
Fans can catch Thursday's action on FOX Sports Detroit or 97.1 The Ticket, with pre-game coverage beginning at 7 p.m.

Red Wings Storylines

• After a slow start to the season, forward Adam Erne has broken out lately, earning four points in his last five games, including a two-goal performance in Tuesday's win over the Hurricanes. Erne has provided much-needed depth to the Red Wings' offense, contributing points from the fourth line.
• Defenseman Filip Hronek earned his first goal of the season Tuesday with a nearly 200-foot empty-netter that put the game away. Hronek leads the team with 18 points, but he hadn't scored a goal since January 14, 2020. The defenseman is one of two Wings players to skate in all 30 games this season, and his 23:34 of average ice time is almost three minutes more than any of his teammates.

• Jonathan Bernier has emerged as the top goaltender for the Wings so far this season, boasting an 8-6 record with a .914 save percentage and 2.90 goals-against average. After two sub-par performances to start the month, Bernier has been stellar in his last three games, with a 2-1 record while earning 105 saves in that span.

Scouting the Stars

• Center Joe Pavelski has stepped up for the Stars when they needed him most. Dallas has been without top center Tyler Seguin all season after hip surgery, and Roope Hintz has been playing hurt, which has put the onus directly on Pavelski. The 13-year veteran leads the Stars in goals (14), assists (13) and his 27 points is 10 more than any of his teammates.
• Defenseman John Klingberg earned two goals and an assist in the first two matchups against the Red Wings this season. Klingberg leads Stars defensemen in points this season with 17 and has posted 10 points in his last eight games against the Red Wings.
• Stars rookie goalie Jake Oettinger has split time between the pipes this season with 12-year veteran Anthon Khudobin, with each netminder appearing in 14 games. Khudobin has more starts so far, with 14 compared to Oettinger's 11, but the rookie has had more success, posting a 4-1-6 record with a .917 save percentage and 2.16 goals-against average, compared to Khudobin's 5-8-1 record, .907 save percentage and 2.65 GAA.