from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,

Those losses in Boston and Montreal early this season were ugly — games the Red Wings still regard as low points.

This one Tuesday was of the same feel for the Red Wings — for most of the night.

The defending Stanley Cup-champion Washington Capitals looked every bit the part Tuesday, dismantling the Wings 6-2 at Capital One Arena.

For what it’s worth, though, those final 20 minutes weren’t nearly as ugly as the Montreal or Boston games.

And the Wings made sure of addressing that after the second period.

“We talked about that last time we were in that spot, in Boston, we started cheating like crazy and lost our game and next thing you know you had to dig yourself out,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “We did the same thing in Montreal and you’re digging yourself out.

“We felt it was important to go out and play the right way and for the most part, we did a decent job.

continued

Below, watch post-game talk from Abdelkader, Larkin and Blashill plus the game highlights.