Article Number Three for Spartan Edge

Hunt for the Playoffs:

By Dave Cobb

The Detroit Red Wings find themselves in a spot they haven’t been in since 1990; fighting for their playoff lives.

The Wings currently hold the longest active streak in all of sports by making the playoffs for 18 consecutive seasons, and for 17 of those they’ve had home ice, meaning they were a No. 4 seed or higher. But Detroit finds itself with its back against the wall this season, desperately fighting for a spot in the playoffs.

The Wings are currently in eighth place in the western conference with 85 points, four points up on Calgary. They trail the seventh spot by two points and the fifth and sixth spots by four.

With two games left against Nashville, Detroit has an opportunity to jump as high as sixth in the standings.

The chances of Detroit making the playoffs are better than ever right now. With a healthy line-up, the Red Wings have one of the best records since the Olympic break in the NHL. The penalty kill has been near perfect, and the power play has been nearly unstoppable. Henrik Zetterberg has been red hot with three points in his last game against Pittsburgh and 10 points in his last six games.

Every game from this point on is crucial for the Winged Wheel. With Nashville playing the best hockey in the NHL right now and Calgary not out of it yet, Detroit needs to make sure they get points in as many games as possible. They have gotten 11 points in their last six games and 17 points since the Olympic break. They also picked up four points in the final three games before the break, a total of 21 points in 14 games. That’s what Detroit has to keep doing to make the playoffs.

The Red Wings are the beneficiaries of possibly the easiest schedule remaining of the teams fighting for a playoff spot. They have two contests with Nashville, three against Columbus, and a game left with the Oilers, the worst team in the NHL. Their schedule also includes winnable games against the Blues and Flyers.

You can finally stop hitting the panic button Detroit: the Wings will be in the playoffs for the 19th straight season.