(My Sportsbook) - The Detroit Red Wings will try to halt their longest losing streak in over 17 years when they visit the Colorado Avalanche and the Pepsi Center tonight.

Detroit, which leads the NHL with 87 points this year, has dropped six in a row for the first time since a seven-game skid from January 14-30, 1991. The Red Wings also endured a six-game winless streak (four losses, two ties) from January 25-February 8, 2003.

After a lopsided 5-1 setback versus Columbus on Friday, the Red Wings suffered a close 1-0 loss to Dallas Sunday. Detroit fired 28 shots at the Stars' Marty Turco, but couldn't light the lamp.

With Dominik Hasek out with a hip flexor and All-Star Chris Osgood 0-4-0 with a 5.73 goals-against average over his last four starts, the Red Wings went with Jimmy Howard in net on Sunday. Making his fifth career start and first since December 13, 2005, Howard was solid with 30 saves in the tough-luck loss.

The Red Wings still lead the Central Division by 18 points over Nashville and hold an eight-point edge over Dallas for the top spot in the West. Detroit has lost three in a row on the road, with Sunday's loss coming in the opener of a five-game trip.

Detroit is 20-8-3 as the visiting team this season.

This is the fourth and final meeting between Detroit and Colorado this season, with the Red Wings winning all three of the previous matchups. However, Osgood didn't start any of those victories. Instead, it was Hasek, who yielded just two goals in those three wins.

Osgood is 9-7-1 with three ties and a 2.68 GAA in 21 career starts against Colorado.

Detroit has won four of five and 11 of its last 13 against Colorado, and has also won six of its last seven trips to Denver.

The Avalanche are also struggling, as they have lost three in row and four of six overall. That includes a 2-1 setback in Chicago on Sunday. Jaroslav Hlinka accounted for the lone Colorado goal.

Jose Theodore, who made 25 saves in defeat yesterday, lost his lone start versus Detroit this year despite allowing only one goal. Theodore is 1-4-0 with a 2.21 GAA in five career starts against the Red Wings.

Colorado has fallen to fourth in the Northwest Division, seven points behind front-running Minnesota. The club is also ninth in the Western Conference, a point behind Vancouver and Calgary.

The Avs have lost five of their last six at home but are still a solid 18-10-2 at the Pepsi Center this season. Following tonight's game, Colorado heads to Anaheim to begin a five-game road trip on Wednesday.