New Jersey @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 17, 2018 ) Detroit 3, New Jersey 2

The Detroit Red Wings look to match a season high with a fourth consecutive victory when they begin a three-game homestand Friday against the New Jersey Devils. Detroit topped host Buffalo 5-4 in overtime on Thursday, putting itself in position for its first four-game winning streak since Nov. 6-13.

Tyler Bertuzzi capped a two-goal, three-point performance by tallying 2:18 into the extra session and Dylan Larkin also scored twice for the Red Wings, who squandered a pair of two-goal leads before finishing their five-game road trip at 4-1-0. New Jersey is coming off a four-game homestand that began with a pair of losses but ended with back-to-back triumphs, including a 3-1 win over the Sabres on Monday. Pavel Zacha snapped a 1-1 deadlock 4 1/2 minutes into the third period and added an assist for the Devils, who are seeking their first three-game winning streak since outscoring their opponents 11-2 from Dec. 27-31. The Red Wings will miss the postseason for the third straight campaign - their longest drought since a five-season absence from 1978-83 - and are one point ahead of 15th-place New Jersey, which failed to make the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New Jersey), FS Detroit Plus

ABOUT THE DEVILS (29-39-9): Defenseman Andy Greene recorded a pair of blocked shots on Monday to increase his season total to a career-high 200. The 36-year-old captain broke the Devils record of 199 set in 2005-06 by fellow blue-liner Colin White. Kyle Palmieri, who has scored just once in his last 13 games, leads the team with 27 goals and is three away from matching the career high he set in 2015-16 - his first season with New Jersey after beginning his career with five in Anaheim.

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (29-38-10): Anthony Mantha suffered an undisclosed injury in Monday's victory at San Jose but proved he was healthy on Thursday by notching three assists. The 24-year-old right wing has collected six points (two goals) over his last three contests following a six-game drought. With two goals against Buffalo, Bertuzzi ended his nine-game drought and matched the total he registered over his previous 17 contests.

OVERTIME

1. Zacha has recorded a goal and four assists during his three-game point streak and landed on the scoresheet in six of his last seven games.

2. Detroit assigned RW Martin Frk to Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League on Thursday - one day after recalling him from the Griffins.

3. New Jersey G Cory Schneider was selected as his team's nominee for the Masterton Trophy while D Niklas Kronwall was chosen as Detroit's.

PREDICTION: Devils 4, Red Wings 2