The slumping Detroit Red Wings will attempt to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the Nashville Predators in Saturday's Central Division clash at Joe Louis Arena.
The Red Wings have an 0-3-2 record over their last five games and the slide includes a loss in Nashville on Tuesday. Shea Weber scored 44 seconds into overtime to deliver a 4-3 win for the Predators in what was the first meeting between the clubs this season. The teams squared off in last year's postseason and Nashville won that opening-round series in five games.
The Preds have won three straight regular-season matchups against the Red Wings.
After earning a point in this week's loss to the Predators, Detroit was dealt a 3-2 regulation setback Thursday night against visiting Columbus. Vinny Prospal scored with just 24.7 seconds to play to lift the Blue Jackets, who won despite spotting Detroit a 2-0 lead just 2:40 into the first period.
Damien Brunner and Valtteri Filppula both scored for the Red Wings, who are on their longest skid since an 0-4-2 stretch from March 10-21 of last season.
"I thought we started good, but I didn't like our second period," said Detroit head coach Mike Babcock. "But in the third period we were terrible and I wasn't happy with it. We have to find a way to get things done here."
Jimmy Howard gave up all three goals on 24 shots and will get another start on Saturday.
The game featured a scary moment when Columbus center Artem Anisimov was taken off on a stretcher following his head hitting the ice.
On the play early in the second period, Anisimov tripped over Detroit's Ian White and fell to the ice. As he was falling, Detroit defenseman Kyle Quincey also fell to the ice and his elbow came down on the head of Anisimov. After several minutes on the ground, his head and neck were immobilized and he was taken into the locker room on a stretcher.
Anisimov was taken to Detroit Medical Center and released from the hospital on Friday. Quincey also suffered an ankle injury on the play and is expected to sit out Saturday's game. He will be replaced in the lineup by Jakub Kindl.
The Red Wings are 5-4-1 on home ice this season and are playing the middle portion of a three-game homestand on Saturday. Detroit will complete the stay at the Joe in Sunday's test against Vancouver.
Nashville enters Saturday having lost three of its last four games and the Preds were shut out in Friday's 1-0 loss to Vancouver. Roberto Luongo out-dueled Pekka Rinne and Dale Weise scored the game's only goal for the visiting Canucks.
Luongo stopped 23 shots for his second shutout of the season and 62nd of his career. Rinne finished with the same amount of saves as his Vancouver counterpart but fell to 7-4-4 on the season.
"I don't think they had a lot of chances. We didn't have many either. It was just one of those defensive battles," Rinne said.
Weber was held scoreless for the first time in four games. The All-Star defenseman went without a goal in his first 14 games of the season before scoring in three straight contests prior to Friday night. He has nine goals and 21 points in 42 regular-season games against Detroit.
Nashville is 4-3-2 as the visiting team this season and has lost two straight on the road.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.