Detroit — The Red Wings hoped for a fast start, after a preseason in which they lost their captain and a key to their offense, Henrik Zetterberg.
Wins might settle down a young team and establish some clear performance leaders that players could look to, as they used to look to Zetterberg, for a boost.
But 0-2-2 and the second-worst goal differential in the NHL, at minus-6, is not getting it done.
In their first two seasons out of the playoffs in 25 seasons, the Wings opened 2016-17 with a 6-2 record, and 2017-18 at 4-1.