Detroit's task will not be easy as the Bruins appear to have turned their game around, going 8-2 in their last 10 games, while the Wings are 1-5-4 in their last 10.
Part of the Bruins' resurgence can be traced to the play of world-class goalie Tuukka Rask.
Rask had his struggles in November, temporarily surrendering his starting job to backup Anton Khudobin, but he eventually earned his way back into the net.
In his last five appearances (one in relief), Rask has been spectacular. He's 4-0-0 with a 1.09 goals-against average, a .955 save percentage and has posted one shutout.
"He's given us the saves when we need them," Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy told NESN after Boston's 3-1 victory over the Islanders last Saturday night. "At the start of the year he had some tough luck too. You go back to the other night in the second period against Arizona it was posting out (the puck) earlier in the year that was posting in. He's getting some breaks and he's earned them.
"He is playing very well. He's out playing the puck, he looks focused, dialed in and comfortable; you started to see it in the Philadelphia game (a 3-0 victory) and he's just carried it over from there."
On the blue line, the Bruins are led by the trio of veteran Zdeno Chara, Livonia native Torey Krug and rookie sensation Charlie McAvoy.
Chara leads the Bruins in ice time, clocking in at 23:47; he has three goals among his eight points in 27 games and is tied for second on the team at plus-11.
Krug, the former Michigan State standout, has four goals among his 16 points in 23 games, which is tops on Boston's defensive corps.
"This was a big test for us," Krug told NESN after the Islanders victory. "We had a lead going into the third period in our building and we want to be a tough team to play against. We did a good job of defending from the inside out and making sure it was tough on them."
McAvoy is part of a contingent of Boston rookies which have made an impact this season. He's second in ice time at 23:27 and has registered four goals and 15 total points in 27 games and is plus-1.
Along with McAvoy, first-year forwards Danton Heinen, (six goals, 15 points in 23 games, plus-5), Jake DeBrusk, (six goals among 13 points in 23 games), Anders Bjork (four goals, 10 points in 20 games) and Sean Kuraly (three goals, six points in 27 games) have kept the Bruins competitive during a streak of injuries.
"Speaking for myself, it's been a lot of learning," DeBrusk told NESN about being thrust into game action. "It's been lots of fun. We're (rookies) sticking together, we have a real tight group, obviously we're getting healthier and we're finding more chemistry and it's time to put the best foot forward and go to work."
The Bruins are still led offensively by their big guns of David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron.
Pastrnak leads Boston in goals with 14 and in points with 27 in 27 games.
The pesky Marchand is second in goals with 11 and points with 23 in just 19 games and is plus-11.
Bergeron has five goals among his 18 points in 22 games and leads the team at plus-12.
"We're trying to build an identity I guess," Rask told reporters after Saturday's win. "We have to battle hard, we have to skate hard. From that we'll build that identity and the kind of reputation of being a hard team to play against.
"That's something we want to accomplish, we need to accomplish in order to make the playoffs and be an elite team in the league and we're heading in that direction. So, let's get going."
With the Bruins feeling good about themselves and the Red Wings still searching for answers, Wednesday's game could be a reality check for both teams to see where they really stand.
