Preview: Red Wings seeking increased physical play against Sharks

DETROIT -- When the Detroit Red Wings and the San Jose Sharks drop the puck for the first time this season, Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill will be looking for his team to stay in the fight and respond to physicality.
"We got to make sure we're making the other teams pay as much of a price as we're paying," Blashill said. "Are we totally built like that? I think we're built enough like that, you know, that we can make sure that guys are making people pay a price."

Before embarking on a three-game, west coast road trip, the Red Wings will entertain the Sharks from Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday night (7:30 p.m., Bally Sports Detroit and the Red Wings Radio Network).
Playing with increased physicality is one key to picking up Detroit's first win of 2022, but keeping things simple in tight games remains among Blashill's highest priorities.
"We just got to keep putting ourselves in those positions and then you've got to find ways to make plays to win the hockey game," Blashill said. "To win in this league, you need great goaltending, you need great specialty teams and you need to play real good five-on-five hockey."

Detroit is currently 15-15-3 this season with 33 points - one point behind the Boston Bruins - who overtook the Red Wings for fourth place in the Atlantic Division last Sunday.
Tuesday's game marks the first time since Dec. 31, 2019, that the Red Wings and Sharks will face off. San Jose (17-15-1) has 35 points, and currently sits in sixth place in the Western Conference's competitive Pacific Division. The Sharks are 8-8-0 on the road.
Timo Meier leads San Jose with 34 points on 13 goals and 21 assists. Logan Couture has tallied 29 points, while Tomas Hertl has 25 points on 16 goals and nine assists. Among league rookies, Jonathan Dahlen is tied for eighth in the NHL with 14 points.
James Reimer and Adin Hill, who is currently on a conditioning assignment, have shared time in goal. Reimer allowed six goals in the first period last Sunday (Jan. 2) in an 8-5 loss at Pittsburgh. The Sharks are coached by Bob Boughner, who is in his third season with the club.
The Red Wings and Sharks will play twice in seven days, with Detroit wrapping up its west coast trip at the SAP Center next Tuesday, Jan. 11.