from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,

"Right now we're beat mentally, and we have to fix that," coach Jeff Blashill said. "WE have to climb out of it. We were in it for a long time and mentally, we've struggled once we kind of fell out of it and we have to get our energy back and find the enjoyment of the competition on a night to night basis.

"We have to find a way to get it back. We have to make sure we are playing at a level of energy and enjoyment and enjoy what we're doing instead of grinding ourselves."...

The Wings came out of the first period tied 1-1, and killed two penalties in the opening 20 minutes, something Larkin felt gave the Wings some momentum. But the pressure of playing shorthanded so much is a recipe for losing, and it eventually was.

"It's hard a way to play," Blashill said. "We've done a decent job of not taking penalties overall, but it's a hard way to play. You don't want to take those kind of penalties (hooking, high-sticking), that many, in the first half of the game."

more ($$$)

added 8:35pm, Detroit's remaining schedule is below.