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Kyle Quincey (left) and Drew Miller, the only Red Wings to appear in all 79 games this season, check Buffalo's Torrey Mitchell.

(The Associated Press)

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Kyle Quincey was staring at a hideous plus-minus rating of minus-14 halfway through the season.

And while plus-minus is not the definitive indicator of a player’s performance, the Detroit Red Wings defenseman did struggle the first three months of the season.

He has played much better since then. In fact, he has been one of the team’s most-improved players since Jan. 1, as evidenced by his plus-8 rating the past 37 games.

Coach Mike Babcock described Quincey’s play as steady since that bad start.

“He’s ultra-competitive in games, he’s a heavy body (6-2, 207),” Babcock said. “He’s playing in our top-four; we need him to be good. Him and (Danny) DeKeyser have been a good pair for us that we’ve been able to play against the best units.”

Quincey, 28, can’t explain the reason for the improved plus-minus. Being paired with DeKeyser helps, but Quincey noted that plus-minus is not the be all-end all statistic.

“You can have some games where I feel like I didn’t have a great game and I’m plus-2, and then sometimes I think I had a great game and I’m minus-3,” Quincey said.

“All I worry about is winning battles and helping the team and making good first passes. Other than that I’ not really controlling my plus-minus.”

Quincey is seeking consistency, something he has lacked after being reacquired by the Red Wings on Feb. 21, 2012, for a first-round pick in a three-way deal with Tampa Bay and Colorado. His job is to play a simple game: Get good positioning, make a good first pass and limit turnovers.

“I just want Babs to know every game what he’s going to get with me,” Quincey said. “Nothing flashy. I’ll jump in when I can, get my shots through, make good first passes and try to win my battles.”

The less his name is mentioned, the better, as is the case with many stay-at-home defensemen.

“If I’m not noticed that’s a good thing,” Quincey said. “If it’s like ‘Oh, man, did you see that?’ That’s not a good thing.

“Stay under the radar, play good defense, let the forwards do their job and score some goals and it should be fun.”

Quincey and DeKeyser have played together the past couple of months, forming a reliable second pairing.

“He’s a great player; we work well together,” Quincey said. “He listens. It’s fun to see his growth. We have good chemistry going and hopefully we can continue that.”

DeKeyser said he and Quincey communicate well, on the ice and after each shift, discussing what they could have done better or what worked well.

“The past couple months we’ve been able read off each other and get some chemistry,” DeKeyser said. “I think we’ve been playing pretty well; some games we wish we were better, some we thought we were pretty good. Overall we just have to step up, especially with Big E (Jonathan Ericsson) being out, and try to help the team as best we can.”

Quincey played his 79th game Tuesday in Buffalo, equaling his career high (2009-10 with Colorado). He and Drew Miller are the only Red Wings who have played every game, no small accomplishment in a season in which the club has been decimated by injuries.

“In years past I’ve had some injuries,” Quincey said. “Knock on wood, that doesn’t happen coming up here. It’s just one of those things like plus-minus. Last game against (the Sabres on Friday) I’m standing beside a guy (Luke Adam), he takes a slap shot in the face and I’m standing three inches from him. That could easily be me.

“It’s a big thing now, just staying in the lineup, staying healthy and helping the team.”

Quincey is in the final year of his contract ($4 million) and can become an unrestricted free agent in July.