The Detroit Red Wings have been here before, in need of a restorative outing after a frustrating one.
They host the Stars on Thursday for the third of four meetings this week, returning from Dallas with bad results and a bruised captain. The Wings have eight games left in their season; the Stars, with 11 remaining, are battling to gain ground in the playoff race. The first game in Dallas came down to a shootout, which the Stars won; the Wings gifting them the second one on egregious defensive lapses looked careless.
“I don’t think it’s something that has been happening very often,” forward Sam Gagner said.