Blashill said if Detroit hopes to earn a third series split against a playoff team from a season ago, his club needs to improve its puck execution and special teams.
"We've got to keep grinding at it," Blashill said Wednesday afternoon. "We saw, last night, a power play that's extremely dangerous and is at a historic level from the Dallas side. But it can win you games, especially if we're able to play the way that we did last night.
"We were pretty sound defensively, didn't give up many chances. You're going to be in a lot of those close games and special teams makes a huge difference."
The Red Wings have struggled offensively to start the season, earning just 1.86 goals per game, but Blashill said if his team plays the way it's capable defensively and takes advantage of opportunities, low-scoring defensive battles could benefit Detroit.
"There's not going to be easy offense. And to be honest with you, I think we've got to be okay with being in games that are 1-1," he said. "If we can be in a lot of games that are 1-1 late in the game, I think it's a good spot for us. And then we've got to find ways to win those.
"You win them with making a play on the power play, you win them with winning that specialty teams battle and you win them by making a critical play in a critical moment."
Blashill said one way to quickly improve the offensive numbers is to feed forward Bobby Ryan -- who had a franchise-first four goals in his first three games with the Red Wings -- which would create more opportunities for others.
"We've got to be able to create more opportunities," the Wings' coach said. "We certainly have a player in Bobby Ryan, we need to find ways to get the puck more to him down low so there's more low-play options, which does open up the higher-play options, the one-timer from (Anthony) Mantha, maybe the back one-timer from (Filip) Hronek."
