Concerning confession from Detroit Red Wings' Dylan Larkin

Whether it's just a structural problem or a leadership problem, the Red Wings have a major issue.

Dylan Larkin was made available to media recently and would address their defensive woes, and inability to mount a comeback.

We expect them to play like they want to win, and needless to say Larkin's answers to the media's questions suggest a lack of confidence in the locker room.

Instead of fighting back after they give up multiple goals, they just quit.

It's trouble for a team who wants to make the playoffs, but can't even play a full sixty-minute game of hockey.

The Wings have this thing they do where they're ahead, and then give up a bunch of goals instead of defending the crease.

The game falls out of reach and they're unable to perform up to expectations and find a way to win.

For example, in the recent game against the Washington Capitals, they were tied 1-1 until the third period and would give up consecutive goals, only to be down 4-1.

This was the sixth time this happened in the last ten games for the Wings.

A similar scenario happened with the Carolina Hurricanes after they allowed three goals in the second period and fell 4-2.

This is the second time the Capitals have potted multiple goals in the same period, as the Wings started out ahead 2-1 after 40 minutes, and would allow a flurry of four goals and would win 5-2.

The defensive lapses are unsustainable.

For all of their issues Steve Yzerman could've addressed the blueline, but did absolutely nothing this deadline, instead trading for Craig Smith and Petr Mrazek.

He needs game-changers and gameb-reakers.

As a result of their bad play, the hope for the playoffs continues to slip out of their hands, as they have 70 points and four out of a playoff spot with the Montreal Canadiens in the second four points ahead.

Games out in the West will be high-level hockey, with teams like Utah, Vegas, and Colorado ready to take aim at Petr Mrazek and Cam Talbot.

Can the Red Wings blue line stop the bleeding in front of the net? Or will they continue to let their playoff hopes slip into the hands of teams like the New York Islanders or Columbus Blue Jackets?