“We just have to dig in and continue to come to work each day and compete as hard as we can,” said Abdelkader, who scored the Red Wings’ lone goal Sunday, his 12th of the season. “We have to compete as hard as we can and just have to find a way to keep pucks out of our net and score more goals.”

What has been especially difficult for the Red Wings — and though it sounds cliché and very much an excuse — is they have played competitively in many of these 10 losses and likely deserved a better fate.

It’s a sign of a team that continues to play hard, and hasn’t given up on the season....

“We’re not going to win with whatever (save) percentage was today (83.9 percent); we need better than that,” Blashill said. “I’m not going to put it on him, it’s a team thing. But I’d also say, and I’ve told the team this, it’s about guys stepping up and making plays and that’s on the goaltenders too.

“You have to step up and make tons of saves. That’s what all the teams that win, do, and we’re going to need it on Tuesday to win.”

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