PREVIEW: Red Wings conclude back-to-back on Saturday with visit to New Jersey

NEWARK, N.J. -- The Detroit Red Wings will look to make it two straight wins heading into the NHL’s holiday break when they battle the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Saturday night.

Puck drop between the Red Wings (16-13-4; 36 points) and Devils (16-13-2; 34 points) is set for 7 p.m., with TV broadcast coverage on Bally Sports Detroit. Ken Kal and Paul Woods will have the call on the Red Wings Radio Network (97.1 The Ticket in Detroit).

Detroit will get right back to work after snapping a four-game losing streak on Friday with a thrilling 7-6 shootout victory on home ice over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Patrick Kane scored two goals and added an assist during the Red Wings’ season-high five-goal first period, and scored his 50th career shootout goal to move into second place on the NHL’s all-time list. Daniel Sprong, J.T. Compher, Shayne Gostisbehere and captain Dylan Larkin each lit the lamp for Detroit, which improved to 6-5-0 against Metropolitan Division opponents this season.

“I think sometimes when you’re in a slump, you just need something to go your way,” said Kane, who is on a point-per-game pace (4 goals, 5 assists) in his first nine games with Detroit. “Obviously we had a great start, but it starts becoming maybe 5-3, 5-4, maybe a little doubt creeps in. But I thought we did a great job of hanging in there.”

Olli Maatta (upper-body injury) exited during the first period of Friday’s game after colliding with Philadelphia forward Garnet Hathaway and did not return. The 29-year-old defenseman will not be available against the Devils.

While head coach Derek Lalonde was pleased the Red Wings secured two points against the Flyers, he said Detroit must clean up its defensive lapses after letting a 5-1 first-period lead slip away.

“Obviously a little discouraging again to have some good moments in our game and have some coverage mistakes,” Lalonde said. “Unfortunately, every coverage mistake is going in right now. We have to keep tightening it up.”

The Red Wings and Devils have split their first two meetings this season. New Jersey outlasted Detroit, 4-3, on Opening Night (Oct. 12) at the Prudential Center, and the Red Wings shut out the Devils, 4-0, in the annual Thanksgiving Eve game at Little Caesars Arena on Nov. 22. Robby Fabbri has scored twice against New Jersey in the two meetings, and Devils star Jack Hughes has scored two goals against Detroit this season.

New Jersey dropped its third straight game on Thursday with a 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. Hughes leads in each of the club’s three main scoring categories (14-24—38) while Jesper Bratt (13-24—37) has also eclipsed the 30-point plateau this season. Netminders Akira Schmid and Vitek Vanecek have combined for 16 wins, a 3.31 goals-against average and .888 save percentage.