DETROIT – Several players who’ve had a tough go needed to step up Thursday for the Detroit Red Wings, none more so than Michael Rasmussen.

After being scratched in two of the previous eight games, Rasmussen had his best game of the season according to coach Todd McLellan.

He scored a nice goal and assisted on another in a 6-3 victory over Anaheim and effectively used his 6-6 frame to protect pucks and play physical.

“He put the complete game together,” McLellan said. “Besides the goal, which was obviously a beautiful goal -- he loaded the puck, he opened up a lane, used a defenseman as a screen – that’s a pretty skilled, talented goal and he had to do it almost while he was stopping.

“But I thought on the penalty kill, I thought along the boards, he was stronger. I thought there was

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