Small successes open the door to bigger challenges for the Detroit Red Wings. That’s been the National Hockey League way for a long time.
Detroit’s completion of the California Sweep for the first time since 2008 has made the Red Wings a more viable playoff candidate. The New Jersey Devils, with 44 points, hold the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Washington Capitals and Red Wings have 44 points each, but the Devils have a tiebreaker advantage over Washington. The Devils have two games in hand over Detroit.
Detroit’s completion of the California Sweep for the first time since 2008 has made the Red Wings a more viable playoff candidate. The New Jersey Devils, with 44 points, hold the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Washington Capitals and Red Wings also have 44 points, but Devils have a tie-breaker advantage over Washington. The Devils have two games in hand over Detroit.
Small successes open the door to bigger challenges for the Detroit Red Wings. That’s been the National Hockey League way for a long time.
Detroit’s completion of the California Sweep for the first time since 2008 has made the Red Wings a more viable playoff candidate. The New Jersey Devils, with 44 points, hold the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Washington Capitals and Red Wings have 44 points each, but the Devils have a tiebreaker advantage over Washington. The Devils have two games in hand over Detroit.
January Gauntlet
That challenge is made more difficult by the fact that the Red Wings will face a gauntlet of quality teams the rest of January. This month, Detroit has ten games remaining, eight of which are against teams currently in the playoffs. The only two opponents who aren’t in a playoff spot are the Tampa Bay Lightning (Jan. 21) and Ottawa Senators (Jan. 31).
The Red Wings’ next game is against the Edmonton Oilers (20-15-1) who come to Detroit with a seven-game winning streak. The Connor McDavid-led Oilers are now playing like the team everyone thought they would be this season. The Los Angeles Kings (20-10-6) will visit LCA on Saturday, hoping to avenge their shootout loss in Los Angeles.
On Saturday, the Red Wings launch a three-game road trip against the Toronto Maple Leafs (20-10-7). They play the Florida Panthers (25-12-2) on Jan. 17 and the Carolina Hurricanes (22-13-5) on Jan. 19.
Then, it’s back home for five consecutive home games to end the month. Detroit starts with the Lightning, then play the Dallas (22-11-5) on Jan. 23, followed by the Philadelphia Flyers (20-13-6) on Jan. 25, the Vegas Golden Knights (23-12-5) and Senators.
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