Tomas-Tatar-10-18-14

Red Wings forward Tomas Tatar, pursued by Toronto's Stephane Robidas, is shooting enough but not finishing.

(The Associated Press)

DETROIT - Tomas Jurco is trying to develop quicker hands. Tomas Tatar just wants to shoot more.

The young Detroit Red Wings forwards need to snap out of early-season slumps. In six games prior to Thursday, Tatar had one goal and Jurco one assist.

They combined for 27 goals in 109 games in 2013-14.

"I'm working on my hands every practice because I felt I didn't have the touch I used to in the beginning of the season," Jurco said before the game against Pittsnirgh. "A little stick-handling just to feel it a little more.

"I spent more time in the gym this summer than I've been on the ice, so I know it's going to take a couple weeks to get into it, but I think I'm getting there. I'm just waiting for the lucky bounce to go in."

Tatar, who isn't shy about shooting, is tied for second on the team with 14 shots. Sooner later, some are bound to find the back of the net, he said.

"Just keep shooting," Tatar said. "The guys who do the scoring, they are getting lots of chances, including me. I have lots of shots, I just have to find a way to put the puck in."

Riley Sheahan, their center for much of last season, also has just one point (an assist), after picking up nine goals and 24 points in 42 games as a rookie.

"You got to earn your goals; they don't just give them to you for free," coach Mike Babcock said. "If you get off to a great start you don't have to worry about confidence. When you don't, you have to worry about confidence.

"The other thing about it is when you arrive in your first year in the league and everything goes rosy, you just think that's how it's going to be for the next 15 years, but the (NHL) Guide and Record Book shows that's not how it works. You actually got to bring it every day, every year. You got to keep getting better and better.

"Tats and Sheahan and Jurco, they're all in that process of understanding how difficult the league is and how hard you got to play. A good pro knows that and does it."

It's not uncommon for young players to struggle a bit after the season in which they establish themselves. Jurco doesn't believe they're being defended any differently.

"We created some chances, we didn't score," Jurco said. "Last year maybe a few of them go in, this year they didn't go in. The whole line, we need a little more bounces to go in."

Said Tatar: "After we score a few power-play goals, maybe it will open up for us and we'll score more five-on-five as well."

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