Things went from bad to worse to soul-crushing for the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night, as their playoff hopes took another significant hit in a lopsided 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The defeat marked yet another discouraging chapter in a difficult stretch for Detroit. Over their last 21 games, the Red Wings have posted a 7-11-3 record, the third-worst mark in the NHL during that span. On a night when several teams around them in the playoff race also lost, Detroit failed to capitalize, leaving them still sitting two points outside of a wild card position.
Advertisement
The playoff implications are becoming increasingly stark. According to MoneyPuck, the Red Wings’ postseason odds dropped to a season-low 32.2 percent on Wednesday. That figure marks their lowest point since opening night, when their chances sat at 23.1 percent, underscoring just how far their outlook has slipped.
Detroit’s remaining schedule does little to inspire confidence as it is considered one of the toughest in the league, featuring multiple matchups against surging opponents like the Philadelphia Flyers twice more, a team riding a wave of momentum after top prospect Porter Martone made his NHL debut Tuesday in a 6-4 loss to the Washington Capitals.
Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.
Beyond Philadelphia, Detroit must also contend with a gauntlet that includes the Minnesota Wild, the red-hot New Jersey Devils, and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Their most critical showdown will be with the Columbus Blue Jackets and could ultimately define Detroit’s season. Columbus currently holds the wild card spot the Red Wings are chasing, and a victory would give Detroit a direct opportunity to leapfrog them in the standings.
Advertisement
With time running out, the margin for error has all but disappeared and if the Red Wings hope to keep their playoff aspirations alive, they will need to reverse course quickly and begin turning close games into crucial wins before the window closes entirely.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
Image
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Read the full article here