“Even during that stretch where we lost a lot and gave up a lot, I can’t say it wasn’t because we weren’t competing,” Yzerman said a few hours before a 4-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators. “I’m encouraged by the speed of play and the enthusiasm and the work ethic that the team has, and I think we’re seeing progress. … I think collectively as a team, the team plays fast, the team plays hard, and it’s a competitive group.
”So obviously we’ve got a long way to go, but I like the atmosphere within the locker room, within the coaching staff.