Notes: Howard and Bernier key in comebacks

DETROIT -- After the second period in Carolina Saturday, Red Wings goaltender Jonathan Bernier was probably looking for some fluids and a long nap.
At that point, Bernier had already faced 37 shots and Detroit was down, 3-1.

But Bernier and his teammates regrouped and rallied for a 4-3 shootout victory over the Hurricanes in the second of back-to-back games.
It marked the third straight game in which the Wings came back from a two-goal deficit to get the win. This is the first time in the history of the franchise for that accomplishment.
"Probably the most important thing in these recent comebacks is our goaltender has allowed us to hang in the game enough to be able to come back," Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "You can't rely on that forever, so we better get that fixed here real fast, where we're not in those spots. But the reality is if any of those games go to a three-goal lead it's a way harder comeback. I would probably pin it on our goaltenders as much as anything."
Bernier said the comebacks are largely a result of increasing confidence.
"I think once you do it once in the season, you feel that you can come back in a game," Bernier said. "Obviously it's not the best recipe to overcome two goals in that many games, but we're finding ways and we'll take all the points that we can right now. But we know as a group that we should and we got to be better starting tomorrow night."
Although their statistics don't quite reflect their level of play, Bernier (2-3-0, 3.93 GAA, .891 SV%) and Jimmy Howard (5-5-2, 2.83 GAA, .918 SV%) have given the Wings a chance to win nearly every game.
"Our goaltending has been our strongest part of our game I think all year," Dylan Larkin said. "And even when it wasn't going well in the beginning they've been battling for us. It was nice to see Bernie, he's such a hard worker in practice and such a nice guy, I was happy for him to have a big game like that."
Bernier and the Wings got a much-needed day off Sunday to recover.
"I felt actually not bad," Bernier said after Monday's practice at BELFOR Training Center. "We didn't come in too late. It's just one of those games where obviously you feel tired after the second, but I felt my conditioning was pretty good because I came back in the third and felt like in the first so it was a good sign that I've been putting the work in through practice."
The 49 saves Bernier made were the most of his career.
"I had a few in Toronto," Bernier said. "Actually Howie asked me if that was the most and I thought I had more in Toronto one year but I don't really keep track of those, to be honest."
Bernier's previous save high did come when he was with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had 48 saves on 50 shots against the Dallas Stars on Dec. 5, 2013. That was also a win.
Last season with the Colorado Avalanche, Bernier's high was 45 saves on 48 shots against the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 18, another win.
According to NHL Public Relations, Bernier is the fifth Red Wings goaltender since 1955-56 to record at least 45 saves in a win and the first since Howard had 51 saves on Jan. 7, 2010 at Los Angeles.
The Wings have now won six of their last seven games.
"I think it's just a confidence-booster for us," Howard said. "The first seven games nothing was really going our way and I think the mood in here, I wouldn't say it was down, but it wasn't great. It feels like guys are getting more and more confident."

Of course, the Red Wings realize that falling behind by two goals every game is not the ideal formula for success and they know they need to start better.
"We talked about that a little bit in the Rangers game and going into Carolina, we need to start like we played in the third and play with that level of urgency," Blashill said. "I would say we started the Carolina game good. The first period was fine. It was the second period that crushed us. We looked lethargic in the second and in a game where you're in a little bit of a tough back-to-back because of the travel, we hurt ourselves by having to play too much defense by turning too many pucks over.
"So I thought that's what hurt us more than anything else. But I thought the start in the game was fine. I think the biggest thing is we got to make sure we have that same level or urgency we have when we get down by a couple of goals."
Playing too much defense is a result of not getting pucks out of the defensive zone more quickly.
Blashill made that a point of emphasis during Monday's practice.
"I think we have struggled, but once we figured out how, in the game for that stretch we're on top of the puck," Larkin said. "You could see it in the third period against the Rangers. In the third period against Carolina we were forechecking, we were skating out of our zone and that's the most important part. We have great-skating defensemen. They're joining the rush and it's making it easier for us forwards. The more we work on it, the better we're getting at it. I think it's something where we have to have a mindset of getting out of our zone fast to start the game."

INJURY UPDATE: Forward Jacob de la Rose, who left Friday's game against the Rangers in the second period because of an upper-body injury, did not practice Monday.
"I don't expect him to be available for tomorrow," Blashill said. "I would list him day to day past that."
Forward Thomas Vanek and defenseman Jonathan Ericsson also did not practice with the team.
"I wouldn't expect either one of them," Blashill said. "Vanek originally was 2-3 weeks, I would stay with that time period for now. Big E skated today. I'd list him day to day, I don't know when for sure he'll be back, it depends on how he responds. I would say Jacob de la Rose is closer than Big E."
HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER: Fans attending Tuesday's game against the Arizona Coyotes are encouraged to wear lavender to support cancer awareness as the team holds its annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night.

The Red Wings will host more than 100 cancer patients, survivors, caretakers and researchers from the American Cancer Society at the game.
The first 7,500 fans in attendance will receive a lavender T-shirt and all fans will receive an official "I Fight For" sign.
In addition, fans can support the American Cancer Society through purchasing player-autographed mystery pucks, 50/50 raffle tickets and lavender player-used Wings Hockey Fights Cancer jerseys and sticks. The jerseys and sticks will be available through an online auction.