Dana Gauruder

Special to the Detroit Free Press

It's not often that a hockey team sends a message while being shut out.

That's what the Detroit Red Wings did, or at least attempted to do, while getting blanked for the first time this season Sunday.

They lost 2-0 to the Colorado Avalanche, but won both of their third-period fights, which were precipitated by hard hits to their top offensive players.

When Colorado defenseman Ian Cole delivered a big body blow at center ice against Andreas Athanasiou, Tyler Bertuzzi sought out Cole. They fought in the Avs' zone and Bertuzzi got the better of the duel, though Cole also landed a couple of punches.

A few minutes later, it was Anthony Mantha's turn to play the role of guardian. Avs defenseman Patrik Nemeth shoved Dylan Larkin head first into the boards. Nemeth paid a price for that hit, as Mantha delivered a few blows to Nemeth's head before the officials stepped in.

The Wings (12-12-3) dropped back to .500 with the loss but felt like they won the battle, literally and figuratively. They want to establish themselves as a tough team that won't back down from anyone.

"We'll go a lot further sticking up for each other than any downside of losing guys (on fighting penalties)," coach Jeff Blashill said. "They're real good players but we're going to win in this room as a group and we're going to win fighting for each other, sticking up for each other. We said that from Day 1."

Their 4-2 victory in Boston on Saturday — their first there in over 5 years — was also marked by some fisticuffs. Luke Witkowski fought Joakim Nordstrom after the Bruins took exception to a clean blow Witkowski delivered on David Krejci.

That led to a bigger scrum with Bertuzzi playing the protagonist. Everyone on the ice dropped their gloves and the goalies had to be restrained from going at it.

Following a couple of quiet periods Sunday, the Wings were flashing their knuckles again.

"I thought we did a good job all night with the physical play," Larkin said. "We stuck up for each other. That's what we've got to do. We've got to play like that. It started last night with Whitter in Boston and it carried over to tonight."

Larkin was frustrated he was required to enter the concussion protocol after he put his hand to his head following Nemeth's hit.

"I was fine. I'm fine now," said Larkin, who returned later in the period. "I guess it's league protocol but it's not fair when he's off for 5 minutes for fighting but there's no discipline to him (for the hit). There's not a penalty on the ice, so I don't know why I have to go off. It makes me mad, it's a critical time in the game."

Larkin was mad at himself for wasting a chance to give the Wings a lead in the opening seconds. They had a rare 3-on-0 situation but Larkin misfired after Mantha slid the puck to him.

That turned out to be their best chance to score all game.

"Anthony made a great play to me and I've got to bury that," he said. "(If I score) we're up 1-0 in the first shift and we're feeling good about ourselves."

The Wings also had their only two power plays in the opening period. Witkowski and Danny DeKeyser were both the victims of high-sticking but the Wings didn't get much pressure on Avs goaltender Semyon Varlamov. They're 4-for-34 on the power play over the past 14 games.

The Wings must improve with the man advantage if they want to make an improbable playoff push. But in terms of establishing a reputation as a physical team, the Wings feel they're making inroads.

"It does give us confidence," Larkin said. "It gives us a swagger, I guess. We'll see. If teams want to play that way, we're not afraid and it shows.'

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