Datsyuk believes the Red Wings need to change focus.

The Detroit Red Wings have the offensive talent, but the production has been sparse, and strangely enough Pavel Datsyuk has now made public comments reported by the Detroit Free Press challenging his team to produce more on the offensive side of the ice.

“More scoring,” said Pavel Datsyuk of what the Red Wings need these final two months of the season. “We haven’t scored enough. Every game is (close). We need more scoring, it would be a much easier game. Every game is a one-goal game.

“Hockey has changed. Everybody plays more defense. They worry more about defense and less offense.”

The comments honestly seem questionable given their source, the Red Wings have received scoring from the young stars, Larkin, Abdelkader, Nyquist, Tatar however it's the veterans, much like Datsyk himself, who have struggle to find pay dirt. Arguably the two biggest names on the roster, Datsyuk and fellow veteran Henrik Zetterberg , who's lofty assist totals have been down as well. have failed to hit double digit goals thus far, although in Datsyuk's case injury has played a major factor.

One of the Red Wings younger stars believes the team is working in the right direction, and in his opinion the Red Wings should continue to focus on their defensive playstyle.

“The focus is playing sound defensively,” forward Justin Abdelkader said. “We’ll have games or stretches we maybe don’t score goals. But you have to play good defensively and not give up much. That has to be the focus.

“Offense is hard to come by in this league. But goals will go in for us. The focus obviously is get pucks on net. Our power play can help us, even if it’s not scoring, just generate some chances.”

Clearly Abdelkader believes this is something the Red Wings can overcome, and perhaps getting healthy could be the cure-all Detroit needs.

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