(SportsNetwork.com) - Even during some of their recent lean years the New York Islanders had a knack for beating the Detroit Red Wings. The new and improved Islanders hope to continue the trend Friday when they visit the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. New York has only made the playoffs once in the previous seven seasons, but is currently sitting second in the Metropolitan Division with 42 points, the same number as Detroit, which is tied for second in the Atlantic. The Red Wings, however, entered 2014-15 having made the postseason 23 straight times dating back to 1989-90. That consistency hasnt counted for much against the Islanders in the recent history between the clubs. New York enters the first of three scheduled meetings with the Red Wings this season having won six of the last seven encounters in this series. That includes a 3-0 victory in Detroit when the clubs last met on Dec. 23 of last season, a triumph that pushed the Isles road winning streak against the Red Wings to four games. The last time Detroit recorded a home victory over the Islanders was in a 6-0 blowout on Nov. 28, 2003. In addition to the series history, the Red Wings also will have to get over their own poor play of late when they take the ice on Friday. Detroit has lost four straight, and three of those losses came in the shootout. Its the Red Wings first four-game losing streak since a six-game slide from Dec. 7-17 last year in which they went 0-4-2. Detroit fell to 1-6 in shootout decisions this season after losing 1-0 in Columbus on Tuesday. Sergei Bobrovsky and the Columbus Blue Jackets remained unbeaten in December with another tight win. Pavel Datsyuk scored in the tiebreaker for the Red Wings, but Jimmy Howard yielded goals to Ryan Johansen and Boone Jenner as Detroit lost in the final phase. Datsyuk was the only player to beat Sergei Bobrovsky all night, fooling his fellow Russian with a backhand to open the shootout. Bobrovsky made 30 saves through regulation and overtime to earn the shutout victory, while Howard ended with 29 saves before allowing Johansen and Jenner to beat him in the shootout. Howard also picked up his second shutout of the season, though it came in a losing effort. Detroits No. 1 netminder saw his personal record in shootouts this season fall to 0-6. The thing I dont like about it is Howard stood on his head and leaves the rink feeling like he didnt win, said Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock. Considering the Isles own a 6-0 record in shootouts this season, Detroit will certainly try to pick up two points tonight before it gets to the tiebreaker. Despite his shootout woes, Howard will get the start tonight for the Wings. He is 1-2-1 with a 2.55 goals against average in four career games against the Isles. New York has won two straight on the heels of three-game losing streak and the clubs most recent triumph came in Mondays shootout win over the visiting New Jersey Devils. The Isles charged back from an early 2-0 deficit before eventually taking a 3-2 decision on Josh Baileys tally in the fifth round of the tiebreaker. Bailey was able to sneak a low shot between the pads of Keith Kinkaid, and Jacob Josefson missed the net on New Jerseys last chance. Theyre fun and you have to go out there and enjoy it, said Bailey about shootouts. You cant be nervous when you go out there so you just have to embrace the moment and enjoy it. Bailey and Matt Martin each had a goal, while Jaroslav Halak stopped 26 shots for the Islanders, who have won five of their last eight. With New York also scheduled to play Saturday against visiting Tampa Bay, its unclear if Halak will get the call or if backup Chad Johnson will make his 10th start of the season. Johnson has a win in his only career game against Detroit, while the veteran Halak is 4-4-1 with a 3.47 GAA in this matchup. Johnny Boychuk could return to the blue line for New York tonight after sitting out the last nine games due to an upper-body injury. Boychuk is second among Isles defensemen this season with 14 points on two goals and 12 assists. Detroit also could get winger Johan Franzen back tonight after he sat out Tuesdays game with an illness. Franzen has six goals and 13 assists in 25 games. Air Max 270 Clearance . According the CSNBayArea.com, the 31-year-old suffered an ACL injury in his right knee on Friday when he collided with Anaheims Emerson Etem during a pre-season game. Cheap Air Max 270 Wholesale . -- Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer will be out three to six weeks with a stress fracture of the third finger of his right hand. http://www.airmax270shoescheap.com/ . It will then be back to business once the puck drops as the two clubs battle for key points in their respective playoff races. Watch the game live on TSN Canadiens and listen on TSN Radio 690 starting at 7:30pm et. Cheap Air Max 270 Sale . -- Atlanta Braves pitcher Tommy Hanson is being checked for a possible concussion after blowing a tire on his way to the first workout of spring training. Air Max 270 Shoes Cheap . Winners of two straight, the Flames will try to become the first team in 25 years to go three consecutive games without taking a penalty Saturday night in San Jose.GREEN BAY, Wis. - Julius Peppers is short and direct when talking in front of the cameras.Not even a looming trip to Chicago to face his old team Sunday will get the Green Bay Packers even-keeled pass rusher to show some emotion.This is just business, Peppers said Thursday. He would know after getting cut by the Bears in the off-season as a salary cap hit.Never hard feelings. Its the business, the 34-year-old Peppers said. People might not go from Green Bay to Chicago, or from Chicago to Green Bay, all the time, but people change teams all the time. Its nothing really extraordinary about this situation.Its also not often that a team gets to add a 6-foot-7 pass rusher who entered the season with 118 1/2 sacks.Yes, I foresee a little extra motivation, but I hopefully dont foresee him having a bigger game against us, Bears running back Matt Forte said. He definitely has found new life over there with a change of scenery and a new team and a new defence.It could have been different had the outcome of the last game between the fierce NFC North rivals gone the Bears way.Fourth-and-8 from the 48 with 46 seconds left. Peppers, with Chicago, rushes free off the right edge.Fullback John Kuhn slides over at the last second and chips Peppers just long enough to allow quarterback Aaron Rodgers to take a step free left. Rodgers finds receiver Randall Cobb down the field with 38 seconds left for a touchdown.Packers win 33-28 to take the division title.If I wouldve made the play, I probably wouldnt be here now, Peppers said.Its kind of like one of those things like, at the time it was the worst thing that couldve happened, he added. But now its like the best thing that couldve happened.Playing mainly right defensive end, Peppers had 175 sacks in his four years in Chicago. His arrival in Green Bay fit with coach Mike McCarthys plan to punch up the pass rush and get more big plays.The Packers, who primarily played a 3-4 defence in recent years, have used more four-linemen looks with Peppers. He has also been asked to cover more than he has had in the past.McCarthy said Peppers is growing more and more comfortable. Lastt week, Peppers got his first sack with Green Bay, forcing Detroits Matthew Stafford to fumble in the process.ddddddddddddTheyre doing a good job of resting him and then playing him so hes staying fresh, Bears offensive co-ordinator Aaron Kromer said. And their defensive line, theyre rotating guys keeping them fresh and thats where you see the difference a€” hes not playing every down so when he comes in he can give it everything.On the field is where Peppers is at his vocal, animated best, Packers defensive lineman Datone Jones said. Midweek in practice, hes a second coach on the field.Jones, a second-year pro, spoke of how Peppers has taught him ways to shed blockers. To Jones, Peppers is a role model.Just how hes studying in meetings, how hes taking notes down and those are some of the things I do every day, Jones said. Its all about the little things, you know you do the little things, you have a bigger payout.Jones said he thought Peppers was going to be very emotional going back to Chicago.If thats the case, Peppers is doing a good job of not letting on.I have nothing but respect for that whole organization, from the ownership to the coaches to the players, Peppers said. This is a business trip. Im a Green Bay Packer now, so thats what it is.But returning with Chicago for the first time to Carolina a€” the team that drafted him in 2002 a€” was different.Going back to Chicago a€” that appears more to be more about business.It was the first time playing against a former team. Its just a little bit different. Carolina is home. So that was the main thing; it was home, Peppers said. Chicago wasnt really home. It was more of a place ... it wasnt home. So, thats the difference.Note: Matthews (groin) was limited for a second straight day in practice, though he said afterward that he would be out there on Sunday. Fellow LBs Nick Perry (wrist) and Brad Jones (quad) were also limited.___AP freelance writer Gene Chamberlain in Lake Forest, Illinois, contributed to this report.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Online Stitched Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Outlet College Jerseys For Sale Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys For Sale Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '