Detroit City Wire

The Detroit Red Wings, at the midpoint of the 2024-25 season, are on a five-game winning streak as they prepare to face the Chicago Blackhawks in an Original Six matchup. The game is scheduled for Friday night at Little Caesars Arena, with a 7 p.m. start time. It will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit and the Red Wings Radio Network.

Detroit aims to complete a season sweep against Chicago after their 4-1 victory at United Center on November 8. Marco Kasper commented on the team's current morale: “The vibes are really good in the locker room right now,” adding that practices have been purposeful and structured.

The Red Wings' recent win came in overtime against the Ottawa Senators, marking their second contest in a four-game homestand. Erik Gustafsson praised his team's understanding of systems during this successful period: “Systems-wise, everybody knows what they’re doing out there,” he said. Gustafsson attributed their success to increased scoring opportunities, emphasizing Todd McLellan's strategy of shooting more: “Get the puck to the net and bodies in front.”

Meanwhile, Chicago sits at the bottom of NHL standings but recently secured a 3-1 victory over Colorado Avalanche. Connor Bedard extended his point streak to eight games with a goal and an assist in that match. He leads Chicago with 26 assists and 37 points this season.

Chicago's goalie Petr Mrazek achieved his eighth win of the season against Colorado, breaking a personal five-game winless streak. Mrazek has played 24 games this season with a goals-against average of 3.13 and a .897 save percentage.

Gustafsson acknowledged Chicago's potential despite their standing: “We know that, obviously looking at the standings, they’re a great team.” He stressed readiness from the start for Detroit to maintain their momentum.