DETROIT - Through all their inconsistencies and issues, the Detroit Red Wings have been able to rely on a consistent power play and good goaltending.
That hasn't been the case lately. Those are two areas that need to be better tonight at home against St. Louis (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network) to avoid going into the three-day Christmas break in a bit of disarray.
A pair of disappointing losses to Montreal has raised the urgency level even higher as they start a four-game homestand.
"We got to empty the tank tonight," Alex DeBrincat said. "Leave it all out there and get the two points."
The power play has been ranked in the top 10 all season and still sits ninth (22.7 percent), but it's just 2 for 25 in the past nine games (eight percent).
"Today's penalty kills, you get those passive diamonds and you have to get the box moving with puck movement," Lalonde said. "If you get stagnant and you just sit there, you're playing into the passive penalty kill. You have to have a certain plan against certain penalty kills and sometimes we just get in a perimeter-stickhandle- hold it, and it's too easy to defend it."
They continue to swap out some personnel and switch players between units.
"I think we're still generating chances, they just aren't going in," DeBrincat said. "When that happens, you got to change some stuff up. We got to go out there and execute and we have the players to do it. We just got to put it in the net and try to feel good about ourselves, be a difference-maker. I think when we get two, three chances in a game, we got to put one in the net and really help the team out."
The Red Wings have allowed 13 goals in the past three games and four or more goals in 5-of-6 games. That's not all on the goaltending, but Cam Talbot, who starts tonight, and Alex Lyon haven't been sharp in recent games while returning from injuries.
"What was also a stinger the last two games was the one reliable position for us has been those two, Talbot and Lyon, and they had struggles the last couple of games," Lalonde said. "So, I expect Cam to get his game back in order."
The absence of two top-four defensemen due to upper-body injuries won't help. Simon Edvinsson took part in Monday's gameday skate but needs a few more days to fully recover. Ben Chiarot, injured during the second period of Saturday's 5-1 loss at Montreal, did not skate Monday and will be reassessed after the break.
"It has to be next-man up and we do have a lot of good defensemen here, so I'm confident in our ability to take control of the situation," defenseman Justin Holl said. "Guys might be playing left, right or different sides than they're used to but it's all part of the game and we're professionals, so just got to figure it out."
Albert Johansson will return to the lineup, likely paired with William Lagesson, who'll play his second game in a row after being recalled from Grand Rapids.
"We haven't handled Simon being out very well," Lalonde said. "Those two games on the West Coast, Anaheim and L.A., not good, and obviously, the two Montreal games. It's probably on me and our staff to be creative tonight and get that home matchup and our D to step up."