DETROIT (AP) — A Detroit Red Wings home game looks and sounds a little like a memorial these days.The lights are dimmed as images of the franchise’s glorious past flash digitally onto the ice before the puck drops http://www.officialsenators.com/authentic-adidas-chris-wideman-jersey , reminding the relative few fans in the stands how good things used to be. And, they were good. Really good.Detroit’s 11 Stanley Cup banners are lowered from the rafters where retired jerseys are also displayed, rekindling memories of the four titles from 1997 to 2008 and the seven championships from 1936-55. The most successful U.S.-based NHL franchise has had some of the game’s all-time greats wear its sweater, adorned with a winged well, from Gordie Howe to Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom.The good times fade during the lights-and-sounds pregame show as the pace of the music picks up and a video montage shows the current team, mostly a mix of role-playing veterans and not-ready prospects. When the lights are turned up closer to game time, more seats appear to be empty than occupied on some nights.Detroit is among the worst teams in the league this season — as expected and by design. The Red Wings hope a painfully poor season will help get them on the fast track to retool with difference-making players in the draft along with some help from veterans in free agency.“I knew it was coming and I was prepared for it,” said Red Wings senior vice president Jim Devellano, who is in his 37th season with the team and his 52nd in the NHL. “I don’t like it. It upsets me, but not to the point that I’m going to go off the deep end.” The Red Wings appear destined to miss the playoffs for a third straight year after a remarkable run of 25 consecutive postseason appearances. Other than the current players and coaches, who are trying to win every game, losing is seen as a necessary evil. Some fans, though, appear to be so fed up they don’t even sit in seats they paid for to attend games.In an effort to make the sparsely filled sections at Little Caesars Arena stand out less in person and on TV, the backs of red seats have been temporarily covered in black. They will eventually be replaced by black chairs at a considerable cost in a 1-year-old arena that is the centerpiece of a $1.2 billion project.Detroit got off to the worst start in franchise history by opening with seven losses and winning only one of its first 10 games. The Red Wings have bounced back with four wins in their last five.“I wouldn’t say it takes the sting out of the slow start, but it’s something to build off of for sure,” forward Justin Abdelkader said during the recent surge.Winning could prove to be counterproductive for the Motor City’s hockey team this season.Part of what has held the Red Wings’ rebuilding effort back is the fact they haven’t had a No. 1 overall pick in the draft in recent years to get a generational player. If they lose enough this season and have some luck in the NHL draft lottery to get the top pick, Jack Hughes would give the franchise and its followers a desperately needed boost. Hughes is a playmaking center for USA Hockey’s 18-under team, which trains and plays in suburban Detroit. His skill would help the team on the ice Craig Anderson Jersey , though perhaps not right away, and his presence would provide a boost in interest for a team struggling to regain its standing as one of the most popular in a sports-crazed state.The Red Wings have also hurt their chances of continuing the success they had for two-plus decades by drafting players, particularly on the blue line, that didn’t pan out. And while Detroit is close to the bottom in the NHL standings, its payroll is larger than about 20 teams in the league.The team has invested in its 2014 first-round pick, 22-year-old center Dylan Larkin , by giving him a $30.5 million, six-year contract last summer. It is trying to surround him with players to push the franchise back toward the playoffs and eventually championship contention.“We’ve got to rebuild by drafting, developing and being patient,” general manager Ken Holland said early in his 22nd season in charge and 36th with the franchise. “I believe we’re headed in the right direction with a lot of young kids we think are ready to come of age.”Chris Ilitch, the most powerful person in the organization, seems to agree with him. The president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, which owns the team and the arena, gave Holland a two-year contract earlier this year to continue guiding a long-term rebuilding project that is counting on 30-plus draft picks from 2017-19.“Kenny Holland has done a marvelous job at accumulating picks, which are so important to executing a successful rebuild,” Ilitch said. “I think you’re starting to see the fruits of the labor.”GAME OF THE WEEKThe defending champion Washington Capitals host Pittsburgh on Wednesday night, the first meeting between the teams since the Penguins won their season opener. Pittsburgh has lost a season-high four straight games after a strong start, while Washington has dropped three of five.LEADERSGoals: David Pastrnak (Boston), 12; Assists: Mikko Rantanen (Colorado) Authentic Erik Karlsson Jersey Kids , 19; Points: Mikko Rantanen (Colorado), 24; Wins: Andrei Vasilevskiy (Tampa Bay) and Frederik Andersen (Toronto), 8; Goals-against average: Jaroslav Halak (Boston), 1.45; Save percentage: Jaroslav Halak (Boston), .952. LAS VEGAS (AP) For the Western Conference-leading Vegas Golden Knights, the third time was indeed a charm against the Edmonton Oilers.William Karlsson got the 100th point of his career with his 30th goal of the season as the Golden Knights beat the Oilers 4-1 Thursday night.Vegas improved to 14-1-1 against Pacific Division teams in its inaugural season, while avenging its two losses, which both came against the Oilers. The 8-2 loss at Edmonton on Nov. 14 still ranks as the worst loss in Vegas’ 57-game history.Article continues below ...”They owned us pretty well, they dominated us the first game in Edmonton, and then they beat us in overtime back here the last time, and you want to beat the team,” Vegas coach Gerard Gallant said. ”It was a big game, it’s a divisional game for us again tonight. It’s a team we haven’t beaten yet, so the guys wanted to come out and play hard tonight.”Ryan Carpenter, Jonathan Marchessault and Erik Haula also scored for Vegas, while Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 28 shots to improve to 18-6-2 and move seven wins shy of 400 for his career.”That was a good one, from start to finish,” Fleury said. ”The guys played great, we were able to get some goals by different guys. A lot of guys chipped in and everybody played well defensively in the zone. A lot of blocked shots Jean-Gabriel Pageau Jersey , and we didn’t give them too much, so it was nice.”Leon Draisaitl scored Edmonton’s lone goal, his 17th of the season, and Cam Talbot finished with 24 saves.After totaling five points in the first two meetings, Edmonton All-Star Connor McDavid was limited to just two shots, as the Golden Knights eliminated the league’s fastest player’s speed in the neutral zone, where he’s most effective.”Obviously he’s one of the best players in the world, so it’s a pretty cool thing to keep him to two shots,” Vegas defenseman Brad Hunt said. ”It’s a tribute to the guys who played against him all night.”The Oilers, who are have been rumored to be sellers as the Feb. 26 trade deadline approaches, have now lost five straight and continue to descend in the Western Conference standings.”I think it’s clear we have to create (better) habits and those details have to become a habit for us,” Oilers forward Mike Cammalleri said. ”We need a real effort from us. Our coaches do a great job preparing us.”The Golden Knights scored a power-play goal for the 11th time in 12 games, going 1-for-2 with a man advantage. Edmonton, which ranks 30th in the league with its power play, was 0 for 1 in its lone attempt with an extra skater.Carpenter opened the scoring when he tapped home a rebound with just under seven minutes remaining in the first period.A little more than four minutes into the second, Marchessault was in perfect position in front of the net to redirect Nate Schmidt’s wrist shot from the point, past Talbot stick side.Karlsson picked up his milestone point when he beat Talbot with a sneaky backhand that slipped under his arm with 7:13 to go in the middle period.Haula, who was a late scratch from Tuesday’s game versus Chicago due to the flu, scored his 22nd goal of the season after standing in front and one-timing James Neal’s pass from behind the net at 4:15 of the third to make it 4-0.”I don’t want to give us too much credit Mark Stone Jersey , I think we can be a lot better, that’s why I kind of take a step back,” Haula said. ”I like to be critical. As a line I think we can do a better job in getting to the net and creating some more shot opportunities.”Draisaitl spoiled Fleury’s shutout bid when his wrist shot from the side sneaked through top shelf with 7 1/2 minutes to go.”It’s too bad, we really wanted Flower to get that shutout, I think he deserves that, he’s played a lot of games and he’s played really well obviously, so that was a bummer,” Haula added. ”Other than that, two points great, now we move on.”NOTES: The Golden Knights are now 23-3-0 when scoring first and their .884 win percentage when recording the opening goal leads the NHL. … Deryk Engelland, who was born in Edmonton, set a new career-high in points for a season with 18 after his assist. … Draisaitl now has points in 11 of his last 13 games, with six goals and 11 assists. … Vegas improved to 21-4-2 at home, one win from matching the NHL record for the most by an expansion team in its first season.UP NEXTOilers: At Arizona on Saturday.Golden Knights: Host Montreal on Saturday.