The Red Wings' Playoff Push - It's Not Time To Panic Yet
Things certainly feel bleak with the Wings now on a three-game losing streak, having lost 4-0 and 7-2 in their last two games, including giving up a season-high 54 shots last night against Colorado. Additionally, captain Dylan Larkin will likely miss at least the next five games with a lower body injury.
However, I’m here to tell you that things are not all bad.
First, the Wings are still on pace for 95 points, ahead of the current playoff cutoff of 92 points.
Second, they need to obtain just half their remaining points in order to reach that mark of 92 points.
Third, the major public models all still have the Wings as more likely than not to make the playoffs.
Why is it not time to panic? Let’s illustrate how the playoff race is shaping up as the Wings hit the final 20 games.
As it stands, the Wings hold the 1st Wildcard spot with 20 games to go and barring an insane stretch of play from Washington, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, or Buffalo, it appears that there are four teams competing for three playoff spots - PHI, DET, TBL, and NYI.
Putting the four teams side-by-side there’s a couple of things. that jump out. First, DET has the fewest games remaining against teams currently in playoff position while both NYI and PHI have more than half their remaining games against playoff teams. The other thing that jumps out is that PHI’s next 10 games are…ludicrous. Eight of their next 10 games are against teams in the top-10 in points percentage.
The next 10 games will be critical and if the Wings can’t put some distance between them and one of the Metro teams, then I think panic button will be warranted.
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