from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

As they approach the midway point of the season, the Detroit Red Wings are trying to figure out if they have a good team or not, according to coach Mike Babcock.

Their record (20-9-9) indicates they are good, since they're only three points behind the Eastern Conference-leading Tampa Bay Lightning.

Now they just hope their schedule over the next two months doesn't prove otherwise.

"To be a good team it's about finding a way to look after the details every single day, putting your work habits before your skill," Babcock said. "If you do those things you have a chance to be good in this league."

The Red Wings will learn a lot about themselves during a stretch that sees them play 17 of 23 games on the road. It begins Saturday in Vancouver, the start of a three-game Western Canada trip.

"Bottom line is we don't get matchups, you don't control everything," Babcock said. "You got to take care of the puck better, you got to play defense better, you got to keep the emotion in the game better.

"Plus, we spend a ton of time at home. The wives are sick of us, so let's get on the road."

continued