DETROIT >> For a bit there it seemed the Red Wings had fixed their issues surrounding the penalty kill.

The unit started the season badly, putting the Wings in some holes they couldn’t escape from in games. But the Wings killed 7 of 8 penalties during a four-game stretch heading into last weekend, where the penalty kill sprung a leak, allowing two Toronto power-play goals in a 3-1 loss, then another power-play goal to the New York Rangers in a 4-0 loss.

The Wings ranked 31st (out of 32 teams) in the penalty kill, at 65.0%, entering Monday’s games.“There’s two phases to it,” coach Derek Lalonde said of the Wings’ penalty kill this season. “One, when it was struggling early there wasn’t structure to it, we weren’t good on routes and we missed some assignments and (pucks) ended up in the back of our net.

“We had an opportunity to practice it, and the structure was much better. It’s just unfortunate the last three (goals allowed), it’s been two broken plays and one shot from the point. I don’t want to panic with it. It’s kind of like our five-on-five play which has been pretty good of late.

“But (we’re) not executing.”

The power-play goals the Leafs and Rangers scored were costly. The two the Leafs scored, obviously, won them the game. Against the Rangers, the Wings arguably were the better team in the first period, but the Rangers scored late in the period, which forced the Wings to play from behind.

“Both were back-breaker scenarios,” Lalonde said.

One possible tweak could be a more aggressive tone to the penalty kill. Lalonde felt the Wings were playing a little hesitant on the penalty kill early in the season when the unit was struggling.

Defenseman Ben Chiarot feels the Wings are at their best when they play more aggressively.

“The one (Saturday) was sort of a unique play,” Chiarot said after Saturday’s loss. “You don’t see too many shots from the wall like that, and pretty good tip in front of the net. It’s just details and being sharp and being aggressive. That’s when our penalty kill has been its best, is when we’re aggressive and taking time and space away, and not giving the other team the kind of looks they want.

“It’s a work in progress still. It was not going well, and then we had it straightened out a bit, and the last two games hasn’t been great. It’s something that we have to continue to work on.”

Winning a simple faceoff, also, could be a major help. The Rangers’ power-play goal Saturday came off a faceoff win and shot from the point.

Lalonde said of the importance of winning faceoffs is “huge.

“The other night, it’s faceoff shot, and in the back of the net. We’ve missed some assignments on our faceoff wins, too. If you win that faceoff, analytically the difference between succeeding and not succeeding (killing the penalty) is huge.

“We’ll keep working on it. The personnel is (mainly) the same (from last season), a little bit different. Our structure has improved, but we have to stop the bleeding.”

Ice chips

Chiarot and his defensive partner Jeff Petry didn’t practice Monday. Both stayed in Toronto to see the Hall of Fame induction of defensemen Shea Weber. All three were teammates in Montreal in 2021 when the Canadiens reached the Stanley Cup Finals.

“Ben and Jeff attended the Hall of Fame ceremonies as guests of Weber,” Lalonde said. “It was an invite by the Montreal Canadiens, which was very classy. They actually took care of travel, which is really cool. It’s a good moment.

“Obviously we had to maneuver with five (defensemen Monday), but it was a productive practice.”

Former Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk also will be inducted. … Goaltender Alex Lyon (lower-body) skated before Monday’s practice, but Lalonde had no further update on Lyon’s availability. Lyon hurt himself in Thursday’s practice, necessitating the Wings to recall goaltender Ville Husso for last weekend. … Some of the cast of “Shoresy,” a hockey-based sitcom that’s a cult classic in the hockey world, visited the Wings and their locker room after practice. The cast was in town for a charity game against the Wings’ alumni.