The Detroit Red Wings got off the snide and found some much-needed offense in a 5-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, but as they prep for Tuesday’s home date against the Tampa Bay Lightning, there are still several Wings stuck in dry dock when it comes to production.

Darren Helm has yet to score this season. Riley Sheahan has one goal and has gone seven games since scoring. Even Justin Abdelkader, after scoring four times in the first two games of the season has gone nine since without tallying.

“I’m getting some chances,” Abdelkader said. “I think I have to get better.

“I think a lot of us offensively, I don’t think our stats are where we want them. I don’t think we’re scoring enough goals. I think our scoring chances are way down. Shots have been down.

“I don’t think anyone is happy with their production, but we have to be better as a team. Individually we each have to step up our game.”

Sheahan was frank in assessing what he needs to do better in order to start enjoying some attacking success.

“I’ve got to get my feet going,” Sheahan said. “I haven’t been happy with how I played the last few games. I need to try and get more pucks on the net and keep it simple, just get the feet going.”

Sheahan felt it all starts from getting more 50-50 pucks and building from there.

“That’s one thing that will be a vocal point for us, winning battles, getting the puck in and on the forecheck quick,” Sheahan said. “Cycling the puck around will be huge.”

At first, Helm wasn’t all that disappointed in his performance to date. Then he got to watch it first hand and really had his eyes opened.

“It’s a lot lower than it needs to be,” Helm assessed of his game. “I thought I was doing all right, but after looking at some video, I'm pretty far from where I need to be. I thought I was working but it didn't look like I was working too much in the video, so it's something I'm going to have to do a lot better job of.”

A guy who’s made his living by his foot speed around the rink, Helm was astonished to witness himself losing so many races.

“Yeah, I thought I was doing the right things skating, but just watching the video, I wasn't getting really to my spots, wasn't skating nearly as hard as I need to be to be effective,” Helm said. “So I think if I pick that up, other things will follow - physicality, more scoring chances, opportunities as well.

“I’ve just got to get back to really just skating, working hard, then I think the game will follow from there.”

Obviously, missing all of training camp and the pre-season after suffering a shoulder injury and concussion on the first day of camp has factored in to Helm’s struggling start.

“That’s a bit of it,” Helm said. “I think I was kind of … I thought I was doing the right things, I know I was a little off, the timing, the skill set of the game as far as having the puck and doing little things like that. But I think if I start skating a little bit harder, those things will fall into place. I'll kind of get that back.

“I don't have any excuses for it right now. It's just something I've got to be way better at.”

As much as it looks nasty when some of them see such low numbers next to their names on the stats sheet, the Wings aren’t about to push the panic button just yet.

“We’re not playing the way we want to but I don’t think there’s much worry in here,” Sheahan said. “I think we’re still happy to be coming to the rink, there’s a good environment, I think the guys are still having fun. I don’t think there’s much worry.

“It’s still early in the season. We’re comfortable and confident with the guys we have. We’re just looking to turn this thing around I guess.”

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