regular season campaign. While currently holding the 3rd
spot in the Atlantic Division, their position in the post-
season is not set in stone yet as the Boston Bruins are 4
points behind and the Ottawa Senators are sitting 6 points
out. Detroit put forth honest efforts against the Florida
Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning but came up short by 2
goals in each game and are 4-6 in their last 10 games. With
teams jostling for playoff positions and some looking to fight
tooth and nail to make the playoffs, it is hard to imagine that
Detroit’s mindset is indifference, satisfied to just play out the
stretch knowing they have all but secured a spot in the post-
season.
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| Courtesy of: NHL.com |
Out of the Red Wings’ remaining 12 games, four teams (Blues,
Lightning, Islanders, Canadiens) that they are set to play, as it stands right now, are
in the post-season and each of these teams will be looking to gain even more
ground in an attempt to secure home-ice advantage. Four other teams that the
Red Wings play (Senators, Bruins, Wild, Capitals) either currently hold a wild
card spot or are within grasp. These are teams below the Red Wings in standings
and games against them should obviously be won. However, as demonstrated in
games against the Panthers and the Bruins, these can be the games that are most
difficult and teams on the outside looking in will bring their best play to get
those crucial two points.
Can the Detroit Red Wings put some wins together and go into
the post-season on a high note? They can and are capable of doing so as shown by
the impressive 15-6-2 record the team had in January and February. Led by
goaltender Petr Mrazek’s stellar play when Jimmy Howard got hurt, players like
Pavel Datsyuk (9G, 14A in January and February), Tomas Tatar (10G, 11A in
January and February), and Henrik Zetterberg (6G, 10A in Janary and February
while missing the last four games in February) carried the team and gave the
Red Wings a chance to win consistently. This play has been all but absent in
March thus far with no player except arguably Justin Abdelkader able to provide
some scoring. While the power play is excelling at 2nd overall in
the NHL, the penalty kill has struggled and sits at 13th overall.
Inconsistent play as of late-with no consecutive wins in the
month of March- have many wondering whether they can find their dominant game
shown earlier in the year and play deep into the playoffs. In order to sprint
instead of limp to the playoffs, the Detroit Red Wings need to step it up
offensively, tighten the screws defensively especially on the penalty kill, and
treat every game from here on in as a playoff game in order to have a favorable
position come mid-April.
