from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,

The Wings have more depth and talent throughout the roster. Some young players have taken noticeable leaps in their development.

But the Wings are still searching for a bit more consistency.

"There's definitely areas where we've progressed," captain Dylan Larkin said. "After (Saturday's) game I don't really want to get into that right now, (but) it's clear that we've progressed. We're more deep.

"But we've been talking about it, getting on a run, stringing some wins together. Then (a loss like Saturday's) happens, and it's frustrating. That's kind of been the story of the season. We win two or three and then we can't find the fourth or fifth and get on a nice run.

"We need to find that. We're talking about it, we're trying. We need to do it pretty soon here."...

Coach Derek Lalonde has talked often this season about how the Wings can't expect to go into any games and expect to coast to victory. The Wings' skill level isn't near where that could be possible. Hard work and attention to detail from this Wings roster is manadatory.

Saturday's loss was another example.

"You see what we are," Lalonde said of a first half assessment. "If we compete and we execute, and our compete and our battle is in that nine-out-of-10, 10-out-of-10 (range), we can play with anyone. But we're not good enough to not do that at any time against anyone.

"Our compete was at a high, high level for four of the last six periods (including an impressive win over Toronto), and it wasn't there for (the first) two periods (Saturday). Disappointing? Maybe. But it's where we're at."

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Below, watch Derek Lalonde after today's practice.