RED WINGS UNDAUNTED BY KEY INJURIES
The Red Wings defeated the Devils 3-1 despite missing Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk for the second consecutive game. Detroit held New Jersey to 11 shots in winning for the fifth time in the past six contests.

* Johan Franzen scored his team-leading third game-winning goal of the season with 7:20 remaining in regulation, extending his point streak to six games (4-5—9). He has scored in each of his last three games. "I think that the Mule [Franzen] can lead with his play, but he's doing more than that," said Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock. "He, Alfie and Kronwall are doing a good job for us. Without the people we have, there's a leadership void and there's opportunities for others."

* Jonas Gustavsson improved to 8-0-1, and now boasts a goals-against average of 2.04 and a save percentage of .928. According to Elias Sports Bureau, he is the first Swedish-born goalie to earn a point in his first nine starts of a season (previously Viktor Fasth - 8 in 2012). Gustavsson is also the first Red Wings goaltender to start a season with points in nine straight starts since Manny Legace accomplished the feat in 2000-01.

DUCKS POST ANOTHER VICTORY AT CHICAGO
The Ducks extended their winning streak against the Blackhawks to five games dating to the 2011-12 season. Anaheim won all three games against Chicago last season, including two at United Center. "We come in here and know we can have success," Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller said. "It's already a mental advantage instead of coming in here and knowing you haven't [gotten] points in forever."

* Ryan Getzlaf, who notched one goal and one assist, has recorded points in each of his past 10 games, the longest active streak in the League (5-7—12).

* Dustin Penner earned an assist on Corey Perry's first-period goal, extending both players' point streaks to six games. Each has 5-3—8 in the six-game span.

* Getzlaf and Perry tallied goals in the same game for the seventh time this season, the second-highest total for any pair of NHL teammates. The St. Louis Blues tandem of Alexander Steen and David Backes has done so eight times (Elias Sports Bureau).

BACK-TO-BACK SHUTOUTS FOR COLUMBUS
Curtis McElhinney made 20 saves for the Blue Jackets, who earned their second consecutive shutout in a 4-0 win over the Wild. It was McElhinney’s first start in the No. 1 role after he came in to relieve an injured Sergei Bobrovsky on Tuesday. He stopped all eight shots he faced in that relief effort.

The Blue Jackets posted consecutive shutouts for the first time since Nov. 20-22, 2010, when Mathieu Garon blanked San Jose and Steve Mason stopped Nashville (Elias Sports Bureau).

GIGUERE CONTINUES HOT START
Colorado goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere extended his franchise record by improving to 7-0 to start the season in the win at Calgary. Giguere boasts a 1.67 goals against average, a .947 save percentage and has two shutouts. The Avalanche improved to 20-7-0 on the season and 17-0-0 when leading after two periods.

LOOSE PUCKS
The Hurricanes tallied four third-period goals against San Jose in extending their winning streak to three games. They have outscored the opposition 14-6 in that span. Captain Eric Staal scored a goal and has 1-4—5 over his four-game point streak and 4-10—14 in his last 12 starts... Sharks captain Joe Thornton tallied an assist to increase his point streak to eight games (3-7—10)…Chris Higgins scored his third game-winning goal of the season in overtime to lift the Canucks to a 3-2 win over the Coyotes… Canucks defenseman Jason Garrison scored also against the Coyotes and now has 2-7—9 in his last seven games… Predators defenseman Shea Weber met with media Friday in Nashville for the first time since being hit in the eye with a puck during a 3-0 loss to Edmonton on Nov. 27. "[Friday] was a good day. It was good to be back out there skating with the guys and hopefully move forward going ahead this week."