Wings shore up penalty kill, fourth line

Detroit — They have points in seven straight and 10 of 13 games in November, but the Red Wings know they also left too many points on the ice that easily could make a difference in the playoff race.

Four one-goal losses and seven one-goal wins out of the 13 demonstrate their squeaky-thin margin for error.

Hammering the point home is five blown leads in the third period the last seven games.

The Wings scored two goals or less in nine games in November. They need more. They need to "close out" teams in the third period. But, mostly, they need more points, any way they come.

And so coach Jeff Blashill continues to make moves in the lineup, including his intention to get Dylan Larkin killing more penalties, and maybe Tomas Jurco, eventually, too.

With more penalty killers, Blashill might tinker with the fourth line, which has mostly been shut out 24 games into the season, and which has been on the ice for about two-thirds of the blown third-period leads.

But working Larkin into the kill means little time for him to practice the power play. Those two units have been shut out three consecutive games, during which they are 0-for-9.

"It hasn't been good enough here for a while," Blashill said of the power play after drilling the two units extensively during practice for a second consecutive session.

"We actually worked on it lots Saturday as well and it didn't pay off, unfortunately, (Sunday against the Panthers) when we needed it to."

Their best goal scorer, Larkin, has 10 goals five-on-five, and was tied for the NHL lead in that category going into play Monday. But he has not scored on the power play.

Blashill does not see the 19-year-old forward as an antidote, yet.

"He's been a great five-on-five player for us," Blashill said. "And the other thing we want to do is to give him some reps on the penalty kill, as well.

"The way practice works in the NHL, you can't work on both because you don't have enough days. So if you work on both at the same time, then he never gets any reps on the penalty kill.

"This is not to say he won't spend time on the power play."

Meanwhile, Blashill made room for Jurco on the second line against the Panthers, but nowhere in the lineup tonight against the Sabres.

He said he is likely to play Darren Helm (no goals, three assists, minus-6) with Pavel Datsyuk and Brad Richards, hoping to add "some speed and a net-front presence" to the second unit.

Teemu Pulkkinen also returns, but on the fourth line after sitting one game to make room for Jurco. Pulkkinen played with Datsyuk and Richards a few games.

Jurco "had the opportunity (against the Panthers)," Blashill said. "It's one game. But I wanted to put Pulkky back in. So, that's the way it goes."

Blashill said a way Jurco, 22, who is projected as a goal scorer, can work his way back into the lineup is killing penalties. He did some drills as a killer with Larkin on Monday.

"These are decisions you're making (when) there's so little difference between the guys," Blashill said. "It might be a little specialty skill that gets you into the lineup."

Pulkkinen might boost fourth-line scoring. Luke Glendening has one goal and Drew Miller none.

Meanwhile, although they helped kill all eight Red Wings penalties against the Panthers and are the main force in their fourth-ranked penalty kill (85 percent), which is also first (89.4 percent) at home, the fourth line has yielded the tying goal in two-thirds of the recent third-period losses.

"I don't think it's bunch of things, but I don't think it is one thing you can put your finger on either," Miller said of the third-period goals. "I mean the goal yesterday hits off his leg and goes in. That's one of those situations where it's an unfortunate bounce.

"We're not closing out 60-minute games, so that's something we've got to improve on," Miller said.

Glendening said the issue has been discussed.

"It's been frustrating," he said. "I know we've got to figure that out, and find a way to hold on. I don't know, maybe we're taking our foot off it, a little bit. But it's not a work ethic thing."

In other prospective lineup moves, Blashill said Brendan Smith is likely back in for Jakub Kindl and Petr Mrazek will play a consecutive game, with Jimmy Howard starting Thursday against the Coyotes.

Sabres at Red Wings

Faceoff: 7:30 Tuesday, Joe Louis Arena, Detroit

TV/radio: FSD/97.1

Outlook: The Red Wings (12-8-4) have points in seven consecutive games. ... The Sabres (10-12-2) are playing better under coach Dan Bylsma (Grand Haven). ... The game features outstanding rookies Dylan Larkin and Jack Eichel, who trained and played for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.