DETROIT - The Detroit Red Wings returned to practice Monday, stinging from their worst performance in recent memory, trying to flush it from their system as they search for answers.

Their slide has reached seven games (0-4-3) and could easily be extended this week when two of the top four teams in the overall standings visit Little Caesars Arena - Winnipeg on Tuesday (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit) and St. Louis on Saturday (1 p.m., FSD).

Players are struggling to explain what has happened. Questions are being raised about coach Jeff Blashill and his staff's effectiveness, but captain Henrik Zetterberg said it's on the players to stop this ship from sinking.

"It's not on the coaches, it's not on the system," Zetterberg said. "It's up to us in here to go out and perform better and win your battles. You have to show more passion and more grit and we're going to do that tomorrow."

The first step is competing, something they haven't done the past five periods against Montreal, getting outscored 15-2.

"In your career you're going to go through those times and it's during those times you realize the character you have," Zetterberg said. "We're going through a tough time here and now we just got to find a way to battle through it. Even if you don't win tomorrow, you just got to go out and have good game, play well and work hard, work as a team. If we do that, eventually we will win enough games and get confidence back and get back at it."

Jonathan Ericsson said they had a team meeting prior to Saturday's game. Then they lost 10-1. No meetings have taken place since.

"I don't know what there is to say," Ericsson said.

He added, "We're on the same page, all of us. We got to find a way to do it on the ice."

Prior to the Montreal games, the Red Wings at least battled, losing three of their previous five games in overtime.

"You go through stretches like this at times and you got to keep grinding and finding ways to win and as a coach keep finding ways to get your message across," Blashill said. "Sometimes that's talk, sometimes that's meetings, sometimes that's practice.

"Our guys, I don't have to convince them they're good enough. They look to plenty of games they've played this season, even games we haven't won, we played really good hockey. But like a lot of teams in the league, we don't have any room for error."

That will be the case Tuesday against the Jets (17-6-4), who are tied with Tampa Bay for the most points in the NHL (38). Jimmy Howard will start in goal.

The Red Wings did more battle drills in Monday's practice, which Zetterberg said he would like to see more often. From a tactical standpoint, Blashill said they need to hold onto the puck more and win puck battles.

They must react better during games when facing adversity.

"When teams score on us, instead of just flush that out and focus on what we do, we get tentative and we sit back a little bit instead of just put the foot on the pedal and go forward," Zetterberg said.

Zetterberg sent a strong message immediately after Saturday's game, saying the team embarrassed every player who ever wore the winged wheel.

"I didn't want that just to be a loss because it wasn't just a loss," he said. "The way we lost, I've never been part of that before. I want them to realize, too, that was bad and make sure that doesn't happen again."

Said Tomas Tatar: "I've never been part of that kind of result. This organization deserves much better.

"We have a big challenge tomorrow and we have to show up."