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Detroit Red Wings forward Daniel Cleary (right) looks for the puck along with Boston's (from left) Dougie Hamilton and Tuukka Rask.

(The Associated Press)

DETROIT -- Three games is a small sample size, not enough time to draw any conclusions.

But the same issues that plagued the Detroit Red Wings’ power play last season are resurfacing. They’re not registering enough shots, they’re not getting on the inside.

“We keep talking about the same things,’’ forward Daniel Cleary said. “We need to get shots to the net and create traffic and get (opponents) moving around, and then we can start making plays.

“It’s early in the season, we have a few days to get a little rest and work on things.’’

After playing three games in four nights, the Red Wings (2-1-0) have a four-day break before hosting the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday.

The Red Wings are 0-for-8 on the power play. In 15:58 with the extra man, they have recorded only 11 shots.

They lost the special teams battle in Saturday's 4-1 loss at Boston, going 0-for-2 on the power play, while the Bruins went 2-for-4.

They’re not showing enough determination to get to the net to suit coach Mike Babcock.

“(The Bruins) were harder on (the puck), they were more efficient, they won way more battles than we did,’’ Babcock said. “I didn’t think we handled their pressure at all, their forecheck. We didn’t execute. We weren’t good enough.’’

Babcock liked the look of the power play in the season-opening 2-1 win over Buffalo, but not so much in the next two games.

“They put the pressure on you and we didn’t break the pressure down,’’ Babcock said. “If you don’t break the pressure down all you do is break out.

“It’s not a skill competition. Their four guys are working as hard as they can. Your five guys got to work harder.’’

He added, “If you look at Boston’s strengths, it’s size on the back end, ability to box out and keep you from their net is key for them. So if we want to be small and play on the outside and not get involved and be light on the puck it’s a long night and we’ll spend the whole night chasing. If we’re on the inside and playing hard and being heavy, it’ll be a lot more fun for us.’’

The Red Wings finished right in the middle of the pack on the power play last season – 15th at 18.4 percent, but they struggled in their second-round playoff series against Chicago (1-for-24).

“We normally are a pretty hard team on the inside, driving the net, hanging onto pucks,’’ Cleary said. “We have to get back to establishing that. Sometimes you got to take a step back and keep the game as simple as you can.’’

With second-unit point man Mikael Samuelsson scratched, Jonathan Ericsson saw some rare power play time (1:05).

“I think in the other two games we at least created a lot of chances, but the puck hasn’t gone in,’’ captain Henrik Zetterberg said. “(On Saturday), it wasn’t good.

“They kept us outside, we couldn’t find a way to get in for rebounds and second chances.’’

Tatar makes season debut

Tomas Tatar had no points and no shots on goal in 9:08 of ice time during his season debut Saturday. He played on a line with Cory Emmerton and Drew Miller, replacing Mikael Samuelsson, who the club said is not injured.

The only way Tatar can crack the top two lines would be as a replacement for an injured player. But playing on the third line is a possibility moving forward.

“Normally, I don’t change a winning lineup,’’ Babcock said.” I was just looking for more. I didn’t get it.’’