PREVIEW: Red Wings focused on raising compete level as they close out back-to-back set Saturday in Vegas

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Detroit looks to overcome a disappointing 4-0 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Friday. The Red Wings outshot the Coyotes, 28-24, but couldn’t solve Arizona netminder Connor Ingram, who handed Detroit its fourth shutout loss of the season.

“We didn’t attack (the Coyotes) right away,” Walman said. “I think we needed to do that. “We were a little relaxed and you can’t do that against any team right now in this league.”

Every point is crucial for the Red Wings, who will be playing their third road game in four days, and Walman said Detroit must commit to raising its competitive level every night to stay on pace in a competitive Eastern Conference wild-card race with 19 regular players. There are still games left in the season.

Entering Saturday, the emerging New York Islanders (70 points) are two points behind the Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning, who are tied for the first wild card spot in the East with 72 points each.

“If you hope to be in the (playoff) picture at the end of the year, these are the types of games you’re going to have to play,” Walman said. “We’re not going to be full of energy all the time, but now it’s playoff hockey every game. “We know what the classification is and we must give our best in each game.”

On Saturday morning, the Red Wings recalled Jonatan Berggren from the Grand Rapids Griffins. Berggren, who is expected to be in Detroit’s lineup against the Knights, has five points (2-3-5) in nine games with the Red Wings this season. The Swedish forward also leads the Griffins in goals (19), assists (27) and points (46) in 43 AHL games.

“Hopefully, we’ll have a little spark here,” Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde said of Berggren’s re-entry into Detroit’s forward corps.

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