Hot Wings win five straight

NHL teams

It was also a fourth straight win for goalie Norm Maracle who is doing a spectacular job replacing injured Chris Osgood in the net.

"The guys played a great defensive game in front me. I didn't have much work," Maracle said. "I've only had about three or four quality scoring chances this season, and we're scoring goals now. When I was in Adirondack, they were only scoring one or two goals a game. It's tough to win like that. Now we've got it clicking."

Maracle was only 2:30 away from his first NHL shutout when Mike Ricci scored San Jose's only goal. Maracle was excited that the win came against Mike Vernon.

"It seemed weird playing against Vernie because I went to his goalie school when I was younger," Maracle said. "Now I look down at the other end and there he was. That's pretty exciting."

Detroit took an early lead with goals from Uwe Krupp and Martin Lapointe in the first period. Darren McCarty extended the lead to 3-0 in the second period and rookie Stacy Roest finished scoring for the Red Wings with his first NHL goal.

"I was so happy, I didn't know what to do when I scored," Roest said. "It's good to get it out of the way. As a guy who's contributed offensively, you feel more a part of it now that the first one's in. But I don't think they expect that much of me."