The Red Wings are 8-4-0 since McLellan took over. The power play, despite going 1 for 9 over the weekend, has been potent, converting at nearly 42 percent during this stretch (18 for 43). The penalty killing continues to struggle (16 for 25, 64 percent).

Sunday's 4-1 loss in Dallas might be another indication the Wings are falling back to their level, having now lost three of their last four games.

On the second night of a back-to-back for both teams, the Dallas Stars ended a two game losing streak with a straightforward 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

The Red Wings’ struggles in the Lone Star State continued Sunday with a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center. The Red Wings (21-21-4) have dropped back-to-back games for the first time since Todd McLellan took over as coach on Dec. 26, scoring just one goal in each game.

But it's on the defensive end that, possibly, bad habits from early in the season are beginning to resurface. McLellan, who took over Dec. 26 and the Wings immediately went 7-2-0 afterward, wants to stomp out those habits before they hurt the Wings again.

Scoring Detroit’s lone goal of the night, Marco Kasper deflected a shot in the slot from Simon Edvinsson to make it 3-1 at 12:01 of the third period. Captain Dylan Larkin also received an assist on Kasper’s sixth goal of the season.

Loses duel Thursday

Stars get back in the win column after dropping two in a row, they beat the Red Wings 4-1 Sunday night. Host Gavin Spittle talks about the Stars being outshot by Detroit but it didn’t matter because Dallas had a 3-0 lead in the first period.

The Stars will take on the Detroit Red Wings as both teams search for bounce back wins in first matchup of the season.