Chicago @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 10, 2019 ) Detroit 2, Chicago 5

Offense has not been a problem for the Chicago Blackhawks during their drive to climb into postseason contention, but the inability to slow down the opposition could hinder their late-season surge. Coming off a wild 8-7 win over Ottawa on Monday, the Blackhawks will go for their 10th victory in 12 games when they visit the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday night.

Chicago has piled up 54 goals during its 9-2-0 run but also has surrendered 20 tallies over the past four games, including Tuesday's slugfest in which both teams combined to score nine times in the first period alone. "We know we're not going to play a perfect game and we know we're going to make mistakes and give up some goals, but they should be a lot less," coach Jeremy Colliton said. The Red Wings lost both ends of a home-and-home against Philadelphia over the weekend and have dropped five of their last seven (2-4-1), including a 5-2 setback at Chicago on Feb. 10. "I think our team has done a real good job of having a short memory, learning from the last game but moving on, moving to the next challenge and that's the game against Chicago," Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (25-26-9): Goaltender Corey Crawford, sidelined for more than two months due to a concussion, has been practicing for a week and seems like an obvious solution to help the defensive woes but Colliton on Monday said that hasn't been discussed. Chicago again will be without stalwart defenseman Brent Seabrook, who will not travel with the team after sitting out the game against Ottawa due to an abdominal strain. Star forward Patrick Kane notched a goal and an assist in the win over Detroit earlier this month and has scored 14 times and collected 26 assists during his 18-game point streak.

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (23-29-8): Forward Anthony Mantha was a bright spot over the weekend for Detroit, ending a nine-game drought by scoring twice in Saturday's 6-5 overtime loss before registering a team-high seven shots on goal in Sunday's 3-1 setback. "I thought he was the best player on the ice for most of the game," Blashill said. "When he skates, he's really good. When he kind of drifts, he's still able to make a lot of stick-on-puck plays, but it's hard for his teammates to know what he's doing." Gustav Nyquist, who scored in the last meeting versus Chicago, is expected back after missing Sunday's game.

OVERTIME

1. Blackhawks F Alex DeBrincat has seven goals and 17 points in nine games this month, including three assists versus Detroit.

2. Red Wings G Jimmy Howard saw action in both weekend games when backup Jonathan Bernier left Sunday's contest with a neck injury.

3. Kane has assists in 17 straight games, tied for the third-longest run in league history.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 4, Red Wings 3