DETROIT -- Despite having a strong and balanced scoring attack and leading the NHL in goals per game, the power play is one area the Detroit Red Wings are focused on improving.



The Red Wings ranked 10th in the league on the power play before Monday's 5-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.



After going 0-for-3 Monday, the Red Wings are 3-for-25 on the power play in their last seven games.



"When things aren't going your way you got to go to the basics, taking more shots and having screens,'' Nicklas Lidstrom said. "That's something we have to look at and try to do a better job at.



"When we really needed one (Monday), the power play didn't step up and get that goal for us.''



It wasn't from a lack of shooting. Detroit had 11 shots on its three power plays. Trailing 1-0, the Red Wings had two power plays almost consecutively midway through the second period.



"That's where the power play's got to click,'' Lidstrom said.



They had some excellent chances, particularly on rebounds. Jonathan Quick's biggest save was robbing Tomas Holmstrom by stretching out and laying his stick on the ice.



"I'm going to watch it all tomorrow and figure it all out just like I always do and see if there was anything that we can do (better),'' Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "I don't like the fact that you got beat, and in your own building. I thought we played with good tempo. I thought the changes we made on our lines were good. I thought (Jiri) Hudler was good. I don't have a whole bunch to complain about.''



Babcock switched his third- and fourth-line centers, using Darren Helm on the third line with Danny Cleary and Hudler and putting Justin Abdelkader on the fourth line, with Patrick Eaves and Drew Miller.



Ericsson keeping things simple

Defenseman Jonathan Ericsson posted a minus-2 rating on Monday but has made a sharp improvement from last season, when he finished a team-worst minus-15. He has a plus-5 rating in 21 games.



Babcock attributed Ericsson's play to being a year older and no longer in his second season, "where the wheels seem to come off some people.''



"He's played well, he's playing with a real good player in (Brian) Rafalski,'' Babcock said. "He's a big body who can play against good players and make good plays.''



The key is making the simple, safe play.



"He's one of those guys who sometimes makes it a little too difficult for himself by trying to make the special play every time instead of the easy play,'' Babcock said. "All he's got to do is watch Nick (Lidstrom). Nick doesn't make those plays, he just makes the easy play every time.''



Ericsson said he's not thinking too much while on the ice.



"You get in a good stretch, you don't think about it, you just play,'' Ericsson said. "That's how it should be. I just want to play, don't want to think about anything out there. Right now it feels good, so I just try to stick with it.''



Filppula needs to get inside

Valtteri Filppula has been running hot and cold lately. He went five games without a point from Nov. 13-24, then picked up three goals and three assists in his next four games. But he has just one assist in his last six games.



"He's got to shoot the puck more, get on the inside more,'' Babcock said. "Same thing I tell you (the media) every time you ask me. That's straightforward, you got to compete, you got to get it on the inside. That's what goal scorers do. Guys that don't score are on the outside all the time.''



Filppula averaged 2.07 shots per game last season but is averaging only 1.64 shots this season.