The Red Wings battled back from an 0-3 series deficit before losing in seven close games to the San Jose Sharks in the second round of the playoffs. It was a hard-fought series that showed how little there is separating these teams and how close the Wings were to reaching the NHL's final four.

But the Sharks have beaten them two consecutive years in the second round, so something is missing. Expect the Wings to make a few changes in the offseason. A significant overhaul, however, is not needed because they have a solid nucleus.

Offense is not a concern. The Wings were second in the NHL in scoring and had so much depth that one or two forwards who would have played every day for many teams were healthy scratches on several nights.

Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg still are two of the best two-way players in the league. They have a good supporting cast of skilled players in Johan Franzen, Danny Cleary and Valtteri Filppula. Aging veterans Todd Bertuzzi and Tomas Holmstrom still have another effective year in them.

If the Wings re-sign free agents Patrick Eaves and Drew Miller, they will have a solid core of third- and fourth-line players that includes the speedy Darren Helm and the abrasive Justin Abdelkader.

Goaltender Jimmy Howard battled with consistency issues following a strong start but was strong in the playoffs, giving the team a chance to win every game.

Defense is the main issue. The Wings ranked 23rd in goals against and 17th in penalty-killing. They allowed too many shots and scoring chances and were turnover-prone. If Nicklas Lidstrom retires, the defense will need a major overhaul. But expect the captain to come back next season. In that case, a slight roster tweak should be good enough to make the Red Wings Stanley Cup contenders again.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT
The Wings got off to a strong 17-4-2 start on their way to a 20th consecutive playoff appearance, the longest current streak in the four major sports. Despite seemingly annual concerns about their age, they managed to win their 14th division title in the last 19 seasons and reach the 100-point mark for the 11th year in a row, extending their own NHL record. They have had home-ice advantage during the first round of the playoffs in 18 of the last 20 seasons, a remarkable string of consistency.

TURNING POINT
The Wings had an excellent chance to finish second in the Western Conference but went 5-5-4 in March. They were not as emotionally engaged at home (2-3-2 for the month) and their defensive play suffered. They ended up finishing third in the West, one point behind San Jose. Had they squeezed another point out of the season, home ice might have made the difference in a close, seven-game series against the Sharks.

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