Red Wings Playoff Chances Haven't Evaporated (Yet)
The Detroit Red Wings are knee-deep in pursuing the final Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference. They held firm to a position for a very long time. However, a recent losing streak has knocked them out of the playoff picture.
For now.
Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.
The hockey website MoneyPuck publishes updates on every NHL team's playoff chances. Earlier on Friday, they posted the latest chances. Rejoice, Red Wings fans – there's still a chance.
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According to MoneyPuck's model, the Red Wings have a 9.3 percent chance of reaching the postseason.
The only other Eastern Conference teams with a lower chance of making the playoffs are the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Buffalo Sabres. Of those teams, only the Sabres have no chance of making it.
The Red Wings currently have 68 points, two points back of the final Wild Card team, the Columbus Blue Jackets. The New York Rangers also have 70 points but have played 66 games to the Red Wings' (and Blue Jackets') 65.
Can The Red Wings Make The Playoffs? Nobody likes losing.
There is always a chance because so much of making the playoffs is outside of the players' control. They can't influence how other games play out.
What they can control is their individual performances. The Red Wings have 17 games remaining on the schedule, which is plenty of time to close the gap and pull ahead of other teams in the running.
Buckle up, Red Wings fans, the end of this season could be a photo finish.
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From The Archives: Rafalski Sets The Table For Success
The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features. Subscribe now to view the full THN Archives here Also, go to to subscribe. The Detroit Red Wings were short two good-sized, top-six forwards last summer when Todd Bertuzzi spurned their offer of a one-year contract, after they already opted not to re-sign Robert Lang. But a lack of size and depleted scoring depth up front isn't what concerned them. This is a team that relies on mobile, puck-moving defensemen to generate an attack, so it was vital for the Wings to replace Mathieu Schneider after he signed with Anaheim July 1. They did so in mere hours, inking Brian Rafalski to a five-year, $30-million contract. It was a lot of money and term to commit to a player who turned 34 last September. But to Red Wings coach Mike Babcock, there was never any doubt it was what his team needed. 'We had to have that (element),' Babcock said. 'You can't play the way we play without it, it's impossible. He can get back and get the puck going. That's so critical if you want to play on offense.'' Rafalski turned out to be one of the best free agent signings of 2007. It's as if he were tailor-made to be a Red Wing, and not just because he's a metro Detroit native. An elite skater with great vision who can move the puck in a flash, Rafalski teamed with five-time Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom to form the NHL's best blueline duo. It took Rafalski only 54 games to eclipse his previous career-high total of nine goals; he'll finish close to his career-high tally of 55 points, which he would have eclipsed easily if he hadn't missed eight games with a groin strain. Detroit went 2-5-1 without him – Lidstrom was also out for five of those games – further demonstrating his value. 'A lot of guys didn't really know him enough when he first came here, but he's definitely a great player,'' said goalie Chris Osgood. 'I liken him to a really smart, efficient quarterback who always makes the right pass coming out of the zone. If I have a chance, I always give him the puck because in all likelihood he'll get it out for us and make a great play.'' Lidstrom is impressed with Rafalski's knack for knowing where his teammates are on the ice. 'He's accurate with his passes, too,'' Lidstrom said. 'It's crisp, hard passes…they really help breaking out of our own end. When you make a good first pass, you usually can skate through the neutral zone.'' Though he flourished in New Jersey's conservative system his first seven seasons in the league, Rafalski has relished helping lead the Wings' freewheeling attack. In Detroit, there's a lot of flow. Star forwards such as Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg fly up the ice, breaking through gaps in the defense, hitting holes with speed. They need someone to pass them the puck at the exact right time. 'That's what I consider myself best at,'' Rafalski said. 'Forwards have freedom, they're not just stuck on the walls, how we seemed to be in Jersey.'' Rafalski sometimes has trouble in making the transition from offense to defense, but he compensates with his great mobility. Size has also been an issue for him throughout his career, probably the reason he wasn't drafted after graduating from the University of Wisconsin. Listed at 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, Rafalski is smaller than the average defenseman, but Osgood noted: 'He's got a huge lower body, you don't see him get bumped off the puck very often if he's fighting with somebody to get it out of the zone.'' With a pair of Stanley Cup rings, Rafalski knows what it takes to win a championship. And the Wings realize their title dreams are a lot more realistic with Rafalski in the fold.
