Preview: Red Wings host Minnesota Wild

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings are on a four-game winning streak and climbing to the top of the Eastern Conference.

The Minnesota Wild are trying to get back into playoff position after a six-game losing streak.

The teams are set to meet Tuesday night at Joe Louis Arena.

TV: 7:30 PM on FSDT, FSNO

About the Red Wings (26-11-9, 2nd in Atlantic Division):

The Red Wings are one point behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Lightning and two points behind the New York Islanders for the top spot in the East. Detroit is 7-3-0 in the past 10 games.

Sunday night featured a dramatic come-from-behind victory over the Buffalo Sabres. The Red Wings fell behind 3-0 in the 1st period but rallied back with three goals in the 2nd. Henrik Zetterberg tallied his 6th career hat trick and 4 total points in the 6-4 win.

More: Red Wings roll on toward top of NHL

Rookie goaltender Petr Mrazek had a tough night. It was a back-to-back start for him and he never made it out of the 1st period. He was pulled after allowing three quick goals. Tom McCollum relieved him and earned his first win in the NHL.

With Jimmy Howard (groin) and Jonas Gustavsson (shoulder) both hurt, the 22-year-old Mrazek will get the start again Tuesday night. Despite Sunday's hickup, he has been stellar for Detroit (2.33 GAA, .916 SV%, 8-3-1).

The Red Wings boast a 25.2 power play percentage -- the second best in the league. Righthanded rookie forward Teemu Pulkkinen is getting some ice time on the man advantage but has yet to tally a point.

Meanwhile, Captain Zetterberg has 5 points in his past two games. He also won 8 of 11 faceoffs Sunday night. Tomas Tatar leads the team with 21 goals while Gustav Nyquist has 18.

About the Wild (20-20-5, 7th in Central Division):

This season is not going as planned for coach Mike Yeo and his Wild, who look like a playoff-caliber team on paper. However, a 7-0 shelling of the Sabres last week and a 3-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes helped the team climb the standings slightly.

Still, there is a long way to go in a tough Central Division, and Monday night's 3-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets does not help the Wild's efforts.

Goalie Devan Dubnyk arrived in Minnesota last week to help boost the squad. He was traded by Arizona for a 3rd-round draft pick. He earned a shutout in his first game with the Wild followed by a 3-1 win over his former team.

Dubnyk will get the start in Detroit.

NOTES:

This is the first of two meetings between the Wild and Red Wings this season. The next is April 4 in Minnesota. The teams split the two-game series last season.

This is both teams' last game before the All-Star break. The Red Wings will be off until next Tuesday, Jan. 27 when they will visit Roberto Luongo and the Florida Panthers.