DETROIT -- It's been a long, long time since the Red Wings went seven games without a victory.
Former Central Division rival Nashville made sure the Wings reached seven straight winless games (0-2-5) as rookie goaltender Marek Mazanec shut them out, 2-0, Tuesday night at Joe Louis Arena.
The last time the Wings went seven straight games without a win was in April of 2002.
That season ended rather well but that was before the salary cap era when the Wings were able to pay for an impressive collection of players.
The Wings (9-6-7) are also winless in eight straight at home (0-2-6). Their last home win was Oct. 15, a 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
"It's just a frustrating time for us right now," said goaltender Jimmy Howard, who made 23 saves. "It just doesn't seem like anything's going our way out there. But you've got to go out there and work for your breaks.
"I don't think it's lack of trying or lack of effort but I think we just gotta dig in a little bit harder around the net and not squeeze our sticks."
Although the Wings came into Tuesday in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, the goal differential was minus-6, now minus-8 (54 goals for, 62 against).
"All in all, I thought our team worked, I thought we competed but we didn't generate," Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "In the end you've got to generate. You've got to spend more time in the offensive zone."
It seems like a while since the Wings went 3-1 on their west coast road trip.
Neither team seemed inclined to score most of the game, but the Predators managed to get their first goal on the power play as Shea Weber's shot from the point got past Howard.
"Obviously that’s something we’re not used to but that’s no excuse," defenseman Niklas Kronwall said. "We have to be better, it’s just the bottom line, play with more emotion and just get the job done out there."
Kronwall thought the Wings needed more emotion, but Howard didn't think that was the problem.
"It's frustrating. There's no way around it, it really is," Howard said. "We're all competitors in here. When things aren't going your way, you try to take on a little bit too much individually and we can't allow that to happen.
"We're all great hockey players in here and there's a reason why we play in the NHL so we gotta get back to that positive mind frame of why we're here and just how hard we worked to get here."
Tuesday was also the first time in six games that the Wings did not at least get a point before succumbing in overtime or a shootout.
"Anytime you haven’t won in as long as we haven’t won that’s concerning but to me it’s all about getting better each and every day," Babcock said. "I tell you that when we’re winning and I tell you that when we’re losing, so we’re going to come in here (Wednesday) and we’re going to get better and get our ship righted."
The Wings don't have to wait long to try again as the Carolina Hurricanes come to town Thursday.
The Hurricanes (10-10-0) only have 20 points to the Wings' 25 but they have won one more game this season.
