Detroit — What once seemed like a near certainty for the Red Wings, to make the playoffs and end a nine-year playoff drought, now looks significantly more difficult.
That’s what a 5-6-2 March, and general inconsistency, will do to a team in a tight playoff race.
It’s certainly negatively impacted the Wings, who head into a crucial three-game trip knowing they’ll have to win the vast majority of the nine games left on their schedule — earn as many of the 18 points left on the table as possible — to secure a playoff spot.
“We’re fighting for a playoff spot,” forward Patrick Kane said. “We have nine games left to prove it. The last game (Saturday’s 5-3 home loss to Philadelphia) wasn’t good enough. We’re all somewhat embarrassed the way the game started off. (There was) a little bit of fight at the end, but to beat one of the better teams in the league (Buffalo) the day before, it shows we’re capable of doing that in here.”
Saturday’s loss was mystifying, considering how well the Wings looked against Buffalo 24 hours earlier, and understanding the importance of these final games. The Wings looked flat for approximately 50-55 minutes of the game, and it was too much overcome against a Flyers’ team that has burst into the playoff picture and was the more desperate team.
The Wings, who’ve been fallen below the playoff cutoff line from one to three points in recent days, feel like they have their destiny still in their own hands – which is the way they want it.
“You’re watching games, standings, every day but it’s definitely in here,” Kane said. “We know we have to go on a little bit of a run.”
Captain Dylan Larkin feels similarly, believing the Wings need to focus on themselves and the task at hand.
“You see what’s going on around the league, (but) just take care of your own business and just hang in there and stick with it,” Larkin said. “We have to take care of our business. We have some very important games coming up on this road trip, which I’m excited about, getting in there and playing.
“It’s tight but just stay in it and you never know what can happen.”
What’s hurt the Wings in recent losses to Ottawa and Philadelphia – two teams tied with the Wings with 86 points, just outside the playoff picture – were flat starts that ultimately cost the Wings important points.
“It’s still in our hands, there’s 18 points left (to earn) but sometimes we play like we’re wating for teams to do us favors, and that’s an issue we have,” coach Todd McLellan said. “We’re caught in between. Realistically it’s in our hands. We play and we win our share of games, and it’ll be fine. We play teams that are right there with us.
“There are six teams within two points (of each other). The division spots (three seeds) will sort themselves out and then the wildcard comes into play. Every team has its share of games left and we’re one of them.”
McLellan wants to see the Wings engaged both physically and mentally, unlike most of Saturday’s game.
“Last game, I had said that the brain and the legs and the will all have to go together. If you’re only using one and not the other, it doesn’t work,” McLellan said. “How do we fix it? Well, we address some of it in the video, which is what we do even when we’re playing really well, and then we put it into play and practice. That’s all fine and dandy, but we’re going into April, and video and practice should just be polishing things up and away you go.
“You shouldn’t be trying to extract competitiveness or heaviness out of the players at this time. But we are and we’re capable of providing it, and we’ll get a chance to do that.”
Here are the seven teams within close range of two wildcards, and the No. 2 and 3 seeds in the Metropolitan Division. Buffalo, Tampa and Montreal are safely tucked in the three Atlantic Division seeds, and Carolina is secure as the No. 1 seed in the Metropolitan:
Boston (92 points; 30 regulation wins, first tiebreaker): 8 games remaining (3 home, 5 road; playing 5 current playoff teams): Comment: The Bruins haven’t had many believers for most of this season but they’re close to nailing down a playoff spot. Still, they arguably have the toughest schedule remaining, so there’s work to do. Moneypuck.com odds: 90.9 percent.
N.Y. Islanders (89 points; 28 RW): 8 games remaining (including Monday’s game against Pittsburgh, 6 home, 2 road; 5 playoff teams): Comment: A lot of home games left, but they’ve been a bit of inconsistent of late, too. Odds: 71.7 percent.
Pittsburgh (88 points; 29 RW): 9 games remaining (including Monday’s game at New York Islander, 4 home, 5 road; 2 playoff teams): Comment: Arguably the easiest schedule, but injuries to Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and shaky goaltending will make this a bumpy ride. Odds: 70.1 percent.
Columbus (88 points; 27 RW): 8 games remaining (4 home, 4 road; 5 playoff teams): Comment: Columbus has back down to earth the last several games after a miraculous hot streak. This is a young team that could be feeling the pressure. Odds: 49.3 percent.
Ottawa (86 points; 32 RW): 9 games remaining (6 home, 3 road; 5 playoff teams): Comment: Such a talented, deep team but poor goaltending has kept them back all season. Odds: 50.5 percent.
Detroit (86 points; 28 RW): 9 games remaining (4 home, 5 road; 4 playoff teams): Comment: There’s certainly a path for the Wings to squeeze into the playoffs. But inconsistency has been an issue. Odds: 35.6 percent.
Philadelphia (86 points; 23 RW): 9 games remaining (four home, five road; four playoff teams): Comment: There is no hotter team in the NHL right now, but will it be too late? The lack of regulation wins could become an issue, too. Odds: 26.3 percent.
Red Wings at Penguins
Faceoff: 7 p.m. Tuesday, PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh
TV/radio: FDSN/97.1 FM
Notable: The Wings (39-26-8, 86 points) begin a crucial three-game road trip with a game in Pittsburgh…The Penguins have won the previous two games between the teams, one in overtime…RW Bryan Rust (Troy/Birmingham Brother Rice) is having another productive season (26 goals, 59 points).
tkulfan@detroitnews.com
@tkulfan
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Red Wings have path to playoffs but ‘have to go on a little run’
Reporting by Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
