(My Sportsbook) - The Detroit Red Wings reminded the NHL last time out who the defending Stanley Cup champions were. That isn't good news for the Los Angeles Kings.

The two teams meet tonight at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena.

The Red Wings, coming off their 11th Stanley Cup title, find themselves with the second-most points in the NHL with 46 off a 21-6-4 record. That is seven back of the San Jose Sharks, who have set or matched a bunch of records this year for the best starts in league history.

However, Detroit hosted San Jose on Thursday and sent the Sharks out of town with a 6-0 loss, snapping their 15-game point streak.

Pavel Datsyuk had two goals as part of a four-point night, while Ty Conklin made 24 saves for his second shutout of the season. Marian Hossa added a goal and an assist to help Detroit win for the third time in five games while also improving to 6-2-0 in the month of December.

Detroit also got goals out of Johan Franzen, Valtteri Filppula and Brad Stuart in the victory.

The Red Wings have now split the first two contests of a four-game homestand that ends versus St. Louis on Tuesday. Detroit has won six of its last seven in Motown and is 10-3-2 overall at home this year.

Conklin is likely to start again tonight with Chris Osgood questionable because of a sore groin. Conklin, who now has six shutouts in his career, is an excellent 9-4-0 in 13 starts this year with a 2.53 goals against average.

The Kings had posted a point in four straight games (2-0-2) heading into last night's contest in Buffalo, but were defeated 5-0. The Sabres' Ryan Miller made 40 saves in keeping Los Angeles out of the net.

Jason LaBarbera, meanwhile, was victimized for four goals on just 14 shots before getting the hook in the third period. With Erik Ersberg out with a strained groin, Jonathan Quick came in and allowed the final score on eight shots faced.

Patrick O'Sullivan had a six-game point streak halted (1 goal, 6 assists), while leading goal scorer Alexander Frolov was held without a point for a third straight game. Frolov has 13 goals on the season, including one versus the Red Wings this year.

The Kings have lost three straight overall and three straight on the road, where they are 3-7-0 this season. Last night's loss came in the opener of a three-game road that ends in Columbus on Tuesday.

Los Angeles dropped a 4-3 shootout decision to Detroit earlier this year and has lost five of its last six versus the Red Wings overall. In fact, Detroit has posted a victory in 17 of its last 20 against the Kings.

The Kings did snap a 12-game winless stretch in Detroit with a 5-3 victory in Motown on February 7, 2008.