DETROIT >> It’s October in the NHL, and that means some of the teams you expect to be outstanding instead get off to slow starts, some crazy high-scoring games, and generally, teams finding their defensive balance.

It takes a while, normally, to find that equilibrium that is bound to take place. The best teams do surface and the weaker teams begin to have their weaknesses exposed.

The Wings, just like any of the 32 teams, want to find an even keel.

“It sounds crazy but there’s a little pressure and the magnitude to it,” coach Derek Lalonde said of the season’s opening games. “We lost to Pittsburgh opening night after a good start (to the game) and it feels like the end of the world. We pitch a shutout against Nashville and you’re on a high, so you’re maintaining an even keel and concentrating on the things you can concentrate on, your structure and compete and improving your game.

“That’s what is important early on.”

Many teams struggle defensively early on, struggling to find that tight structure that is vital.

The Wings have been impressive, at times, through three games, but not enough over the entirety to have been successful. That is something Lalonde and his staff are seeking to improve.

“I don’t know if it’s so much structure as consistency in your structure,” Lalonde said. “You look at bits and parts of that Nashville game (a 3-0 Wings shutout victory), you look at bits and parts of our New York game (a 4-1 loss Monday), our five-on-five structure, some things we wanted to accomplish within our (defensive) zone, within our neutral zone that are pretty darn good. We lost (it) for 20 minutes against Pittsburgh and end up on the bad side of it.

“It’s about consistency in your structure.”

Lalonde wouldn’t put a timeframe on how long a team needs to get fine-tuned.

“You hope as soon as possible,” Lalonde said. “But again, I’d like to sit here with some better results but, for the most part, over nine periods, we’ve done some pretty good things. But we need more of it and more consistency with it, especially with the type of opponents we’re playing.”

The Wings have a unique schedule the first full week of the regular season, in that they play the Rangers two consecutive games, and Nashville before and after they play the Rangers. That familiarity could be a benefit.

“I like the fact that we’re playing the same opponent,” Lalonde said. “And I like the fact that it’s a really good opponent that’s extremely well coached and strong in all three areas of the game. This is going to challenge us.”

Defenseman Moritz Seider feels the Wings have been competitive enough in the three games to deserve better results.

“It’s not like we played bad,” Seider said. “We had one bad game, against Pittsburgh, and had a real solid game against Nashville and played a real good team (Rangers) on the road. We shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves. We should be excited about having another challenge (against the Rangers on Thursday).

“Things will fall in our favor as long as we stay with the process, that’s important.”

Ice chips

Christian Fischer (upper-body) returned to the lineup after missing Monday’s game. Vladimir Tarasenko took part in the morning skate on Thursday after being ill the day before. Both Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp didn’t take part in Thursday’s morning skate, but Lalonde said both would play against the Rangers.

“They’re good to go,” Lalonde said. “Just a little something that is going through our team (flu bug). We thought it was best to keep them off (the ice on Thursday morning).

“Fischer will be in the lineup. He responded very well after practice (Wednesday).”

… On defense, Erik Gustafsson returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch Monday and replaced Albert Johansson.

… Defenseman Justin Holl remained in the lineup for a third consecutive game, after being waived and sent to Grand Rapids, to open the regular season.

Holl had a nice assist on the Wings’ lone goal Monday and has been steady defensively.

“He’s played well, I really liked his game in New York,” Lalonde said.

“Considering the challenges those matchups can be on the road, he’s earned it, 100 percent (staying in the lineup).”