“Obviously, us sitting here have been a .500 team pretty much through all 10 games,” Detroit head coach Derek Lalonde said. “One up, one down.” Two down to start. You worry about your team and focus on yourself internally, but you look around and the division has gone nowhere. The (Eastern) Conference achieved nothing. I hope and expect some of that parity.

Lalonde expects more consistency from the Red Wings and believes better results will result.

“We would like to look for some consistency over 60 minutes,” Lalonde said. “Looking from above, it looks really good sometimes but not all the time. This is something we struggle with. All 12 (forwards) and six (defenders). The first 10 games are difficult to read, they probably give an idea of ​​our record, but there are signs that it is good. I liked the practices we had this week. I think we’re trying to replicate and get reps to address those inconsistencies.

Ahead of Saturday’s home game, Lalonde said he expects Vladimir Tarasenko (illness) to be available and Tyler Motte (upper body) just needs medical clearance before being tried fit to face the Buffalo Sabres.

Motte has missed the last six games, while Tarasenko did not play in Detroit’s 6-2 loss to the NHL-leading Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday.

“This could be our first (game with) 13 (forwarders),” Lalonde said. “We’d like to have that decision, so we’ll get over it and go from there.”