(Sports Network) - The Colorado Avalanche go for their longest winning streak in nearly a year this evening, as they visit the Detroit Red Wings and Joe Louis Arena.

One season after finishing with the fewest points in the Western Conference, the Avalanche have won five of their first seven games (5-1-1). Colorado figured to be put to the test early, hitting the road for a season-long seven- game road trip after opening the year with two straight home games, but have picked up seven points so far on the swing.

The Avalanche lost the first game of the trek in Nashville before a shootout loss in Chicago. Colorado has since won three straight, picking up victories in Boston, Toronto and Montreal.

The Avs haven't won four straight since a five-game winning streak from October 16-25 of last season.

In Montreal on Thursday, rookie Ryan O'Reilly's first-career goal with 6:13 left in the third period was the difference in a 3-2 triumph. The 18-year-old was taken in the second round of the 2009 draft, 33rd overall, and has skated in all seven games for Colorado this season.

"We responded right away when [the Canadiens] tied it at 2-2," O'Reilly said. "We could have hung our heads, but we responded as a young team. We went out there, got on the forecheck and took the play to them."

Kyle Cumiskey netted his second-career goal and first since 2007, while Milan Hejduk also scored. Craig Anderson halted 29 shots in the victory.

Colorado will end its trip in Minnesota on Wednesday, but first has to get past a Red Wings club that it beat three times in four meetings last year, including twice in a shootout.

Detroit, though, has still won six of its last 10 versus Colorado and six of the last nine at home in the series.

The Red Wings have split their first six games of the season and are coming off a historic 5-2 victory over the Kings on Thursday.

Nicklas Lidstrom had a pair of assists to become the first European defenseman and eighth defender overall to reach 1,000 career points in league history. The six-time Norris Trophy winner has 229 goals and 771 assists in his 1,336- game career.

"It feels great and it's something I'm very proud of to reach that milestone," said Lidstrom, who joined a list that includes Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey, Al MacInnis, Phil Housley, Larry Murphy, Denis Potvin and Brian Leetch.

Brian Rafalski had a goal and an assist, while Henrik Zetterberg, Kirk Maltby, Tomas Holmstrom and Jonathan Ericsson each scored a goal for the Red Wings, who have won three of their last four.

Chris Osgood made 24 saves in the win, which Detroit managed without Pavel Datsyuk. The center missed the game because of an upper-body injury that has him questionable for tonight.

Following tonight's home test, the Red Wings will play five in a row on the road.