Glendale, Ariz. — The Red Wings were beginning to build a reputation as a good defensive team last season.
They were hoping to build upon that, make it their identity.
It was a good plan, and it may prove out.
But not right now.
Thursday's 5-2 loss in Vegas, though a little better defensive performance, was the third consecutive game — all losses — the Wings allowed five goals.
They are yielding 3.42 goals per game, 28th out of 32 NHL teams.
"As the year went on last year we had trouble offensively, but we were trying to create a team that didn't give you much and was hard to play against," forward Sam Gagner said.