Patrick Eaves-1-11-14

The Red Wings and Patrick Eaves will look to break through offensively tonight against Alec Martinez and the Kings.

(The Associated Press)

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings are having difficulty scoring, but they’re also focusing on limiting opportunities against.

The Red Wings have allowed 45 or more shots on goal in three of their past five games, getting outstanding goaltending from Jimmy Howard in each of those outings, but still losing the past two by 1-0 scores.

They'll try to cut down on chances against and break through offensively tonight against the Los Angeles Kings at Joe Louis Arena (7 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit), in the start of a crucial five-game homestand.

“We’re definitely flirting with fire here giving up so many shots, but at the same time we’re doing a great job of limiting their second opportunities,” Howard said. “The D are going a great job of clearing out front and tying up guys’ sticks. If we continue to do that and box guys out, and allowing whoever’s in net to see the puck we’ll be all right.”

The Red Wings rank 15th in the NHL in shots against (29.6 per game). They were seventh last season (27.5) and third in 2011-12 (27.0).

“We obviously want to cut down the shots but I think a lot of those shots are from bad angles,” defenseman Brendan Smith said. “It’s more the high-opportunity chance, we got to make sure we focus on and don’t allow.

“I think the biggest thing for us is keep staying on them on offense and grinding them down and they won’t have as many shots.”

The Red Wings (20-17-10) have never been shut out three times in a row during the regular season. The Kings (29-14-5) rank first in the league in goals-against average (1.92).

“We just got to get Howie to do what he’s doing, that’s the key,” coach Mike Babcock said. “When you got a shortened bench or a depleted lineup, if you get goaltending, like we did the other night in L.A. (44 saves for Howard in a 3-1 win), you can hang around, hang around, and you’re going to get chances.

“We need outstanding goaltending and we need goaltending early and then we’ll settle in and give ourselves a chance. We’re going to compete hard tonight, I guarantee that.”

Babcock said the only lineup change tonight sees Tomas Tatar, back after attending his father’s funeral in Slovakia, replacing Mikael Samuelsson.

The Red Wings’ injured list includes Pavel Datsyuk (lower body), Daniel Alfredsson (lower back inflammation), Darren Helm (groin), Johan Franzen (concussion), Joakim Andersson (groin), Stephen Weiss (hernia surgery), Jonathan Ericsson (broken ribs) and Jonas Gustavsson (groin).

Here are the Red Wings' anticipated lines and defense parings, at least in warmups:

Gustav Nyquist-Henrik Zetterberg-Justin Abdelkader

Tomas Jurco-Riley Sheahan-Todd Bertuzzi

Drew Miller-Cory Emmerton-Tomas Tatar

Daniel Cleary-Luke Glendening-Patrick Eaves

Niklas Kronwall-Brendan Smith

Kyle Quincey-Danny DeKeyser

Brian Lashoff-Jakub Kindl

Jimmy Howard (starting)

Petr Mrazek