After a disappointing goaltender interference call on Friday cost them the game in Florida, the Wings were hungry to get back onto the ice and continue their desperate uphill battle for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Tonight, the big bad Boston Bruins were in town, a team that the Wings have had a hard time against this season so far. Detroit barely showed up as they were out-shot, out-attempted, and out-chanced all game. They lost 3-1.

The first period wasn’t very entertaining. Tuuka Rask made a nice glove save on a point shot from Nick Jensen. Jimmy Howard came up big on one save as well. Towards the end of the period, Nik Kronwall took a hooking penalty, but his team managed to kill it off.

The scoring started in the 2nd when Detroit was on their first powerplay of the game. Marty Frk buried his 9th of the season off a pass from Kronwall.

Exactly as it was drawn up! Boston wouldn’t let up, though. They were all over the Wings. After the halfway mark of the period, Detroit got caught chasing the puck and Sean Kuraly made them pay by burying a one-timer of his own.

The Bruins kept up the pressure, adding another to their tally a mere two minutes later. This time, it was David Krejci capitalizing on an absolute mess in front of Jimmy Howard.

Boston added one more in the third period when Danton Heinen sniped a goal past Jimmy Howard.

In the dying minutes of the game, just when all hope seemed to be lost, Frans Nielsen banged in the puck off a Martin Frk rebound.

It was scored with enough time to put more pressure and maybe tie the game. Nielsen almost did it himself. Unfortunately, this team doesn’t get that lucky. The final horn would sound with Boston leading 3-2.

The Wings had a bit of a better third period, but overall they stunk. Not enough shots, not enough chances. They relied heavily on Jimmy Howard to make the saves and keep them in the game. They need to be smothering their opponents more in the defensive zone, especially a team as fast and talented as the Bruins. The one positive here is that their penalty kill was at 100% and they saw some good action from their powerplay. Otherwise, let’s hit the reset button before Friday.

Tonight’s Motor City MVP is Martin Frk for scoring the lone Red Wings goal and adding a primary assist on their second. It was Frk’s 9th goal of the season, but only 4 of those have come at 5v5. Over the course of the season, Frk has become the powerplay specialist that the Wings need him to be.

The Wings are back in action this Friday night against John Tavares and the New York Islanders in Brooklyn. It will be one of many tough match-ups coming up for Detroit, but it’s a challenge they are running into head-on. Puck drop is 7:00 P.M. ET and you can watch the game on Fox Sports Detroit or MSG+ if you’re tuning in from the New York area. As always, Brock Seguin will have your pre-game report early Friday afternoon, so check back then for roster updates and starting goalies.