from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

The first home game following a West Coast trip can be tough, but the Detroit Red Wings have had plenty of time to adjust before hosting Nashville tonight (7 p.m., Bally Sports Detroit).

“I want to see how we’re going to be coming off an extended road trip, going East Coast, West Coast, back to East Coast playing and then three days between games,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “We’re trying to caution our guys. This has a little letdown written all over it, just being a whole different routine.”

The Red Wings (9-5-4) wrapped up their four-game trip Saturday in Columbus and will have had three days between games, including a couple of hard practices.

One week ago, the Red Wings were mired in a four-game slide (0-2-2). Now they have won back-to-back games as they start a five-game homestand, their longest of the season.

“Someone asked me on the West Coast, what are you going to do, you’re 0-2-2. Now we win two in a row, and we’ve pointed (three in a row),” Lalonde said. “It’s amazing how narratives change. We’ve taken points in 13 of 18 games. That’s why we’re sitting where we’re at. It’s going to be tough every time out.”

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from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,

Lalonde went deeper into what that has encompassed through the first two months of the season.

"Block shots, tracking, back-checking, getting above plays, like all those hard things you have to do to be successful," Lalonde said. "Especially nights where we're not going to out-talent a team. I was fortunate to be in Tampa where when we didn’t play our best, our elite talent got us through some games. We're not going to get many of those nights here."

The Wings stayed in the playoff hunt for the better part of half of last season. Though not faring well against playoff-caliber teams, the Wings consistently earned points against teams lower in the standings.

But after midseason, with the schedule populated with tougher opponents, the Wings wilted and responded poorly to their own self-challenge of playing the type of hockey they wanted.

Lalonde and his coaching staff have made sure the Wings keep riveted on the task, or tasks, ahead of them this season.

"There’s a difference between winning hockey and unfortunately where they were at the end of last year," Lalonde said. "It was a tough situation for everyone. A depleted lineup, they had no chance of making the playoffs. So, what are you playing for? We talk about our ‘why’ in the room all the time, what was their ‘why’ then? Are guys cheating for points? It’s a little tougher in those situations to put your body on the line, and I understand it."

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