From The Joe – Friday night recaps

Catching you up on all the excitement from the hockey in the Mitten tonight.

By Michael Caples –

DETROIT – The Red Wings started the 2011-12 season with five straight wins. The problem is that they haven’t won since.

Detroit lost to their rivals from San Jose Friday night 4-2, which extends the Wings’ losing streak to three. That might not seem like much of a problem, but the fact that the Wings have lost those three games by a combined score of 15-4 raises the concern level.

“You can’t get frustrated,” captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. “You have to stick with it, and keep working hard. You’re going to have your ups and downs during the year. We have to just fight through it. When you’re facing it, you just have to dig harder and work harder.”

The Wings took an early lead when Henrik Zetterberg converted the rebound off Lidstrom’s blast that banked off the end boards and right onto Zetterberg’s stick. However, San Jose posted two goals in the first 7:57 of the second period to take control of the contest.

Holmstrom redirected a point shot from Pavel Datsyuk to get the Wings a power-play tally and tie the game. Momentum seemed to be going back in favor of the Wings, until Joe Thornton struck with 1:42 remaining in the middle frame. Thornton added the empty-net goal to put the game out of reach for the Wings.

The Wings will have little time for adjustments; they play in Minnesota tomorrow night.

Wolverines sweep

Out in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines completed a two-game sweep over the Ferris State Bulldogs. Alex Guptill, Travis Lynch, A.J. Treais, and Chris Brown all scored for the Maize and Blue, and Shawn Hunwick recorded his second win in as many nights. Both teams went scoreless on their power-play opportunities. Michigan now holds a 6-1-1 record.

Spartans roll

MSU welcomed Robert Morris to East Lansing tonight, and posted five goals on the Colonials. Sophomore forward Greg Wolfe had his first two-goal game for the Green and White, and Will Yanakeff had 23 saves to get the win. MSU is now 3-4-0 on the season.

Broncos beat Wildcats

Dane Walters posted three points, including the game-winning goal, to lead Western Michigan to a 4-2 win over NMU in Kalamazoo.  Frank Slubowski had to stop only 12 shots to get the win for the Broncos.

Lakers keep winnin’

The Lakers swept Miami, bumping their record to 7-1-0, and 5-1-0 in conference play. LSSU is first in the CCHA with 15 points.