DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings, with their skill, talent and history of success, typically are the team others try to emulate.

But to draw even in the Western Conference quarterfinals, the Red Wings hope to borrow from the Phoenix Coyotes' blueprint for success.

"They do the little things well. They get the puck behind you and skate,'' Detroit forward Dan Cleary said. "They're not fancy Dans, trying to beat you with their skill level. It's more their determination and work ethic. We need to find a little bit more of that.''

They need to find it fast, like Tuesday night in Game 4 at Joe Louis Arena, in what Cleary called a must-win game with his club trailing the playoff series 2-1.

After

, the Red Wings realized they need a tactical change to spend less time in their zone, reduce turnovers in the neutral zone and make life more difficult for Phoenix's defense in the offensive zone. They suggested the need to play more of a chip-and-chase style.

Beyond strategy, the Red Wings know it mostly boils down to effort.

"They got a lot of character guys in there who are putting it on the line every shift,'' defenseman Niklas Kronwall said of the Coyotes. "That's something we've done in the past, and we have to do it again.''

Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said he

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from a shaky performance and get more help from his defense. Detroit's top six forwards need to generate more scoring chances.

"The biggest issue in my mind for our team is that you've got to look across at the other guy and say, 'I'm going to outwork you,' '' Babcock said. "It's not about skill. You've got to compete harder than the other guy.''

The Red Wings want to take a more blue-collar approach in dealing with Phoenix's trapping system. Instead of trying to make the extra pass against a wall of players lined up in the neutral zone, the Red Wings said they need to lay the puck in the Phoenix zone more often and win races for it.

"They stay five guys there (neutral zone), waiting for us to turn over pucks, and they make quick (transition),'' Pavel Datsyuk said. "Maybe we need more chipping and more forechecking and finishing the checks on the defensemen, making them uncomfortable. And more shots on (goaltender Ilya) Bryzgalov and go for the rebounds.''

Said Cleary: "You got to skate and move the puck and give up possession to get it back.''

Babcock said there are a lot of ways to get the puck in deep and wear on Phoenix's defense.

"You can chip it in, you can rim it behind and go get it,'' Babcock said. "(Henrik) Zetterberg's goal in Game 2 was a prime example of that. You pass it off the goalie and you bang it in the net.

"If you have no speed through the neutral zone, though, you don't get in, you don't grind on them. You waste your energy in your own zone. You don't spend much time in their end and you're not likely to generate second and third chances.''

The Coyotes seemed to rally around the absence of Shane Doan, their captain and physical catalyst, after he left Sunday's game two minutes into the second period with an apparent shoulder injury. Doan

, and coach Dave Tippett said the forward's status will be determined after Tuesday's morning skate.

The Red Wings can't afford to fall behind 3-1 in the series, which would force them to win three consecutive games, including two in Phoenix.

"Everyone in this room has been through a lot of different situations,'' Detroit forward Todd Bertuzzi said. "We're not little kids anymore. We're all guys who've been around and know the situation and know how important this game is. I think you'll see a different team.''

Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom doesn't think his team is shaken in any way.

"I haven't seen any panicking yet, and I don't think you'll see it, either,'' Lidstrom said. "Just have to play with more desperation. That's the key word here.''