Ethan Sears of DetroitRedWings.com yesterday after the Wings lost to the Penguins,

Sunday's game as a whole falls under that category for the Red Wings' defense. Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic let in four of 23 shots. The Red Wings let in a Kasperi Kapanen goal on a Pittsburgh power play and another one off an odd-man rush. There were mistakes that, during the first three preseason games, were a lot less common.

"Ultimately, guys, this is what the preseason's for," Blashill said. "I certainly don't pass a whole bunch of judgement on everybody in this short period of time."

For a team like the Red Wings, young and in the midst of a rebuild, these games happen - especially in the preseason. The important thing will be learning from it.

Long days

Although the Red Wings are rotating their game rosters to avoid playing anyone on back-to-backs, the effects of playing a day game in a different city just hours after playing a night game in Detroit were evident.

Before Saturday's game, Blashill touched on the toll stretches like this one - in which the team plays three straight days - takes on the coaching staff.

"If there was a time I was gonna spend the night at (Little Caesars Arena), it would be through the exhibition stretch of training camp," Blashill said. "It's certainly the most taxing part of the season for the coaching staff. I remember my first one as an assistant, I was like, what just happened?"

During the regular season, teams don't play this many games in this few days - Detroit's preseason schedule features eight games in 11 days. But with a condensed schedule and larger rosters, they can get stretched to the limit during camp.

"It's great for us, because then once the season starts, it almost feels calm," Blashill said. "So we do a lot to be as prepared as possible."

more and yes the Wings host the Blackhawks tonight, game is on Bally Sports Detroit...