Four New Year's Resolutions That the Detroit Red Wings Should Make for 2015

With 2014 coming to a close, now is the time for the Detroit Red Wings to make resolutions that will help them be even more successful than they have been so far this season.

While some of these resolutions are simple, others will require far more in-depth detail.

Here are four New Year's resolutions for the Detroit Red Wings in 2015.

End the Game Before a Shootout

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

The shootout has been both a blessing and a curse for the Detroit Red Wings this season. 

While fans, players and management cannot be impressed with the on-ice results, Detroit has still picked up a point in each of the league-leading seven shootout losses this season.

Although Red Wings' GM Ken Holland is among the proponents of a longer, more entertaining overtime period before the shootout, the fact of the matter is that the Red Wings have the on-ice talent necessary to end the game before overtime on more nights than not. 

A major New Year's resolution for Detroit should be ending games before the shootout even begins. Winning just 12.5 percent (1-8) of shootouts is flat-out embarrassing, but if the Wings can end the game before the shootout begins, they shouldn't have to deal with any more shootout losses for a while.

Find a Way to Continue the Power Play Dominance on the Road

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With 23 power-play goals in 22 home games, the Red Wings have been nothing short of dominant at home on the power play. 

This enabled Detroit to comeback from a 3-1 deficit against the Buffalo Sabres, as the Wings potted four power-play goals on six chances, winning 6-3 on Tuesday night.

But Detroit needs to find a way to build power play success on the road as well, as they have just nine goals in 13 road games this season. As Detroit is due to play a slew of road games over the next month and a half, the Wings need to figure out how to translate the best home power-play conversion rate (27.1 percent) in the league to the road, where they are just 9-48 for 18.8 percent conversion.

That 18.8 percent on the road isn't bad, as it is good for 10th in the NHL. But, due to the fact that Detroit plays 19 of the next 26 on the road leading to the end of February, it means that special teams will need to become that much more special over that time.

Keep Stephen Weiss Healthy

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Stephen Weiss is a little woozy as he leaves the ice here after taking an elbow to the head.

With Stephen Weiss' groin injuries hopefully in the rearview mirror, the Detroit Red Wings need to figure out how to keep him on the ice and prevent avoidable injuries. Weiss suffered a hit to the head in games against the Florida Panthers and Buffalo Sabres this season that knocked him out of both games.

When Weiss does play for Detroit, however, good things happen.

The Wings are an amazing 9-0-3 this season when Weiss plays a game, but just 9-8-6 when he is out of the lineup. Add onto that the fact that Weiss has 11 points in 12 games, and it seems like Weiss could finally grow into the contract he signed two offseasons ago. 

A New Year's resolution for Detroit and Weiss would be to find out how to keep him healthy, skating well and in the lineup, most importantly.

Do a Better Job of Finding Ways to Win When Scoring First

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

When the Red Wings score first, they win just 50 percent of games, tying them for 25th-worst in the league in that regard.

Simply put, if Detroit scores first, they should win statistically more games than they lose. But that simply has not been the case.

In fact, strangely enough, the Wings are third in the NHL in winning percentage for games in which the other team scores first, winning 53 percent of the time.

The Red Wings' New Year's resolution should be to learn to win more games in which they score first.