DETROIT -- Early in the season, the Red Wings couldn't score but they weren't giving up a lot.
Now that trend has reversed.
After the Wings' 5-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks Sunday, the Wings have scored 43 goals in their last 12 games.
The Wings scored 30 in their first 12 games of the season and went 6-3-3.
The Wings have scored 43 in their last 12 games and have gone 8-2-2, including their current four-game winning streak.
However, the Wings gave up just 28 goals in their first 12 and have allowed 33 in their last 12.
"I didn't think we were near as good as we can be," Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "I thought we turned over some pucks and backed in a little bit, but we did enough good things to win and found a way to win the game."
It's hard to complain too much when the Wings are winning but Babcock doesn't want to let his team fall into any bad habits.
"I hate to give up the empty-net goal when their goaltender was out because we didn't execute like we should," Babcock said. "If they shoot it in the net and we're all in the right spots I don't have an issue with that, but when we don't do it right you have to fix that."
After a start, then a 34-minute delay for a power outage at Joe Louis Arena, then a re-start, the Wings had a solid first period, taking a 2-0 lead.
"They had some good chances early, Howie (Jimmy Howard) came up big for us," said Niklas Kronwall, who scored the Wings' first goal. "Then we were able to capitalize on some chances that we had."
The Wings escaped the second with a 3-1 lead, despite getting out-shot 12-7, then the Canucks carried more of the play in the third.
"We have to find a way to be a lot better than that, take care of the puck a lot better," Kronwall said. "A lot of times it starts in our own zone."
The Wings improved to 14-5-5 and 9-2-2 at home with 33 points. The Canucks also have 33 points in 24 games, so it was a good measuring stick.
"Obviously feels good winning the game, playing against Vancouver, who's very good so far this year and I thought again, we don't see them too often but impressive," Kronwall said. They're a really good team."
Captain Henrik Zetterberg, who had two assists in the victory, believes that the four-game winning streak is a good sign.
"We're doing things right. Maybe it hasn't been perfect all the time, but in the end we're winning games," Zetterberg said. "When you're not playing your greatest and you can win games that's good."
Like his coach, Kronwall thinks the Wings can reach a new level.
"I don't think we've necessarily played great but we've found different ways to win," Kronwall said. "We've been down, we've been up. All in all, we have to find a way to play better for 60 minutes."
NOTE: Late in the third period, Drew Miller had his chance.
On a partial breakaway, Miller drove to the net where his brother Ryan waited.
Ryan made the save.
"Trying to beat their defenseman and the puck was rolling," Drew said. "By the time I got there I really didn't think I'd get a chance to make a move so I just tried to take a shot and get it on net. I don't know, it was a good chance. It's a fun game, had a couple of good shifts against him in the offensive zone."
Drew has one assist with 13 shots on goal in games against Ryan, but this was his best shot.
"For sure that was probably the best one," Drew said. "It was a breakaway, just couldn't get the puck to settle down there in the end. Still tried to fight off the defenseman behind me. Probably wasn't the clearest breakaway, but was still a good opportunity."
Drew is now 7-1 all-time in NHL games against Ryan, including 6-0 as a Wing.
"I mean, it's not something that I hold over his head, but he knows it's there," Drew said.
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