CALGARY, Alberta – Clinging to eighth place in the Western Conference, the Detroit Red Wings are teetering on the edge of qualifying for the playoffs for the 22nd consecutive season.
Detroit will look to strengthen its standing on Wednesday when it travels to Alberta in an effort to prevent a season sweep at the hands of the Calgary Flames.
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The Red Wings, who have a game in hand over Central Division-rival Columbus, sit two points ahead of Dallas in the congested West.
Calgary is likely to miss the postseason for the fourth consecutive season, but it has gotten the better of Detroit on two occasions. Mike Cammalleri notched three assists in the Flames' 4-1 victory on Feb. 5 and Miikka Kiprusoff turned aside 36 shots in a 5-2 win on March 13. Unfortunately for Calgary, it has just 14 more wins and resides one point ahead of Colorado in the basement of the conference.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, FSN Plus (Detroit), TSN (Calgary)
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (20-15-7): After word had leaked that the two sides were close, Detroit made it official on Tuesday by announcing that goaltender Jimmy Howard signed a six-year contract extension. Multiple reports detailed that the deal is worth $31.8 million.
Howard registered his 14th career shutout - and third in 2013 - by turning aside all 22 shots he faced in a 3-0 triumph over Nashville on Sunday. The victory snapped the Red Wings' 0-1-2 skid.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (16-22-4): Ben Hanowski had quite the NHL debut. The 22-year-old scored from the top of the crease in a 4-3 loss to Minnesota on Monday - just hours after participating in his first practice with the team.
"It was a special moment and I'll aways remember it," said Hanowski, who had signed with the club on Friday after St. Cloud State was eliminated from the Frozen Four.
He was acquired in the deal that sent veteran Jarome Iginla to Pittsburgh.
OVERTIME
1. Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg snapped a 10-game goalless drought on Sunday. Zetterberg, who scored for the first time since March 16, set up the Red Wings' lone goal in the first outing versus the Flames.
2. Calgary LW Curtis Glencross has collected two goals and an assist against Detroit in 2013. Glencross has torched the Red Wings in his career, scoring eight goals and setting up nine others in 21 contests.
3. Former Red Wings G Joey MacDonald has made three consecutive starts for Calgary.