from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,

“I can’t explain it,” said Blashill of the shabby two periods before finally awaking in the third. “We’ll work tomorrow to get that corrected. That’s inexcusable to not be able to work and compete at the start of the game, through the second period.

“What happens (when) you’re not ready to go and all of a sudden you’re swimming the rest of the time,” Blashill said. “We saw that for two periods and we’ll make sure (Tuesday) we’ll get that sorted out.

“Go to work tomorrow and make sure it never happens again, which we will.

“Show up at 12 (noon).”

This defeat was different from the one-sided losses in Boston and Montreal a week ago. In this game, it was mostly a lack of work.

“We lost our way in Boston and Montreal, but we didn’t not show up, we showed up,” Blashill said. “We got down and we panicked and started playing stupid hockey.

“This was not showing up. This was a different animal. It was no good.”

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Below, watch Jeff Blashill, Jimmy Howards after the game plus the game highlights.

added 9:11am, More reaction from the dressing room, post-game. Watch below.