The Detroit Red Wings look more energetic, enthusiastic and confident under Todd McLellan. Whether that’s the typical new-coach bump in performance teams often experience or something that will last and maybe even propel them in the playoff chase remains to be seen.

Todd McLellan said the Detroit Red Wings have to pick their poison as they figure out how to improve, which they must do a lot of.

It looked fun and intense – and, of course, purposeful. "It has a fun element to it, but the battle in the middle for body positioning, the quick hands and quick vision that comes into play – that’s all about what happens in and around the blue paint,