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The Detroit Red Wings are chasing their fifth consecutive Central Division crown and second consecutive Presidents' Trophy.

They hope to get closer to the honors as they host the hapless Chicago Blackhawks and look for their eighth consecutive win against the division rivals.

Brendan Shanahan scored the game-winning goal and added an assist to help Detroit to a 4-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Thursday.

The win moved the Red Wings 15 points ahead of the Predators in the division. They also maintained a two-point lead on the Eastern Conference-leading Ottawa Senators for the Presidents' Trophy as the league's top team.

"I don't know why Shanahan plays so well against Nashville," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "He gets all excited because Nashville is such a good hockey team."

Shanahan's three points against the nhl Predators gave him seven in the last six games. He is second on the team with 33 goals this season, his highest output since scoring 37 in 2001-02.

The 18-year veteran has tallied a point in all six meetings with the Blackhawks this season, totaling three goals and eight points. His 45 goals and 84 points against Chicago are the most in his career against any opponent.

The Red Wings have already clinched a spot in the playoffs for the 15th consecutive season, the longest active streak in the NHL.

The Blackhawks have only qualified for the playoffs once in the last eight seasons, in 2001-02.

Kyle Calder scored in overtime to give the Blackhawks a 3-2 spread win over the St. Louis Blues Wednesday and snap a five-game losing streak. All five losses during the slide had come by one-goal margins.

"It wasn't pretty, but I want them to enjoy the win because they've been close on a couple of occasions and haven't gotten the result," Chicago coach Trent Yawney said. "Tonight I saw some things that were positive even when we gave up the two-goal lead."

There have not been many positives for Chicago in the past two seasons as it has combined for 104 points, three fewer than the Red Wings have this season alone.