DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings desperately need to develop that killer instinct coach Jeff Blashill and players have talked about for weeks – the ability to close out games.
They continue squandering valuable points by failing to finish off opponents in the third period.
Their 2-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres Monday at Joe Louis Arena stung more the previous 10 games in which they blew a third-period lead because this time they earned no points.
"It seems like it's happening a little bit too often," forward Brad Richards said. "We've got to learn as a team to go into the third period, late in the third period, with the lead, we've got to close it out and lock it down.