It was a season-long struggle for the Detroit Red Wings to gain traction in 2015-16. They never did, winning no more than four games in a row and doing that only once.
This season might be the same. The Red Wings showed promise during an early six-game winning streak, but have gone 2-5-1 since. The offense has been inconsistent, the defense has struggled at times and special teams have been bad.
Here are five things to watch for this week:
Lineup changes looming
Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill probably won't dress the same lineup Tuesday against Tampa Bay, following Saturday's 5-0 loss at Montreal.