Can the Red Wings Keep Rolling Against the Sharks?

The Detroit Red Wings are on a tear, riding a seven-game winning streak as they host the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night. It’s been a total team effort for Detroit as they claw their way back into the Eastern Conference playoff race. Meanwhile, the Sharks are looking for answers after a rough stretch and hoping to play spoiler.

Red Wings Heating Up

Detroit has been a different team since Todd McLellan took over as head coach. They’ve gone 7-1-0 under his guidance, and the vibe in the locker room is completely different. But while the wins are piling up, McLellan is keeping things in perspective.

“We’re in a good spot, but all we did was crawl back into it,” McLellan said. “Now we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”

Key players have stepped up big time during this run. Captain Dylan Larkin is on fire with six goals in his last six games, showing why he’s the heartbeat of this team. Meanwhile, Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane are carrying seven-game point streaks into the game, proving they’re still among the league’s best offensive threats.

Sunday’s 6-2 win over Seattle was another example of how dangerous Detroit has become. DeBrincat and Kane set the tone early with first-period goals, and the team never looked back.

The Red Wings haven’t had an eight-game winning streak since 2008, but they’re knocking on the door.

Sharks Struggling to Find Their Bite

On the other side, the San Jose Sharks are having a season to forget. They’ve lost three straight games and are 3-13-1 over their last 17. Scoring goals has been their Achilles’ heel—they haven’t managed more than three goals in a game in their last 13 contests.

The frustration is clear. After firing 37 shots on goal in Saturday’s 3-1 loss to Minnesota, forward William Eklund summed it up: “We’ve got to find a way to score more goals. We’re getting chances, but we need to capitalize.”

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Mikael Granlund leads the team with 36 points, but he’s been in a major slump, scoring just one goal since late November. Defenseman Jake Walman, who recently returned from injury, had an assist against Minnesota and will face his former team in Detroit.

The Matchup

These teams met earlier this season, with the Sharks pulling out a dramatic 5-4 overtime win thanks to rookie Macklin Celebrini’s game-winner. But this time, the Red Wings are a completely different team, playing with confidence and purpose under McLellan.

The Sharks will need to dig deep and capitalize on their chances to have a shot at slowing down Detroit’s momentum. For the Red Wings, it’s all about keeping the streak alive and continuing their climb in the playoff race.

This one has the makings of an exciting game. Can the Red Wings make it eight in a row, or will the Sharks finally find some offense?