from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,

The aggressiveness at times can wear on the coaching staff, but the overriding feeling is one of confidence.

The Detroit Red Wings have two functional special teams, their power play and penalty kill both ensconced in the top 10 in the NHL. That’s gratifying, especially after both finished in the bottom third last season, and it’s come even as a rash of injuries have impacted both units....

The Wings are looking to win for what would be the fourth time in five games when they host the New York Rangers, Friday at Little Caesars Arena. Entering Thursday’s games, the Wings had the league’s ninth best power play (26.1 percent) and 10th best penalty kill (82.1 percent. The PK was instrumental in Tuesday’s rally over the Vancouver Canucks, delivering a big kill after the Wings unsuccessfully challenged a goal.

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from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

When the Detroit Red Wings coaching staff was implementing power play strategy in the off-season, pondering possible units and assessing personnel, Dennis Cholowski's name didn't surface.

"He's a better offensive player that I would have given him credit for coming into the year," coach Jeff Blashill said. "Part of that is the work he put in this summer. Part of that is his ability is better than I realized."

Cholowski has been better than anyone could have projected. The 20-year-old defenseman earned a job in training camp in a competition that wasn't close. Early in his rookie season, he is second on the team in average ice time (20:41), first among defensemen in points (eight) and leads all Red Wings in power-play points (six).

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