It’s Make Or Break Week For The Red Wings

If the Detroit Red Wings are to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 season, it's got to happen this week.

As of this writing (the morning of April 8th), the Red Wings are in the 2nd Wild Card spot in the NHL's Eastern Conference.  That's the last playoff spot in the East, you can think of it as the 8th seed if that helps you out.

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Detroit has 84 points after Sunday's huge win over the Buffalo Sabres, 3-1.  That's one point better than Pittsburgh, Washington, and Philadelphia.  And one point behind the Metropolitan Division's 3rd place team, the New York Islanders.  Remember, you get two points for a win (regulation, overtime, or shootout), and one point for an overtime or shootout loss.

Here is the remainder of the Wings regular season schedule:

Tuesday:  Home vs. Washington

Thursday:  @ Pittsburgh

Saturday:  @ Toronto

Monday (15th):  Home vs. Montreal

Tuesday (16th):  @ Montreal

As you can see, it's a very difficult schedule to finish out the season.  They may need to win at least three or four of their final games to get in, considering who they are playing.

There are some things you need to know, however:

WHAT IF THE WINGS END UP TIED FOR THE LAST SPOT?

If that happens, the first tiebreaker is regulation wins.  Or games you have won in regulation time (no overtime or shootout wins).  You may see it as RW in the standings.  Here's how they stand right now:

Detroit  27 RW

Pittsburgh  31 RW

Washington  28 RW

Philadelphia  28 RW

NY Islanders  26 RW

If there's still a tie after that, the second tiebreaker is regulation & overtime wins (no shootout wins).  You'll see that as ROW in the standings.  Here's how that stands right now:

Detroit  36 ROW

Pittsburgh  34 ROW

Washington  32 ROW

Philadelphia  32 ROW

NY Islanders  34 ROW

I'll stop there.  For a look at the entire NHL tiebreaker system, click here.

THE RED WINGS ARE IN THE ATLANTIC DIVISION.  WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT WHO FINISHES 3RD IN THE METROPOLITAN DIVISION?

Because whoever finishes 3rd gets the last automatic qualifying spot for the playoffs. The top three teams in each of the NHL's four divisions (2 in the Eastern Conference, 2 in the Western Conference) automatically get in.  Whoever does not get that last guaranteed spot has to try to get the last Wild Card spot in the East along with Detroit (either Toronto or Tampa Bay are guaranteed to get the first Wild Card spot).  Here's how the race for 3rd place in the Metropolitan Division looks right now:

NY Islanders  85

Pittsburgh  83

Washington  83

Philadelphia  83

If the Wings (remember, they have 84 points) finish ahead of all of these teams, or at least three of the four teams, they'll be in the playoffs.

HOW MANY DO THE WINGS NEED TO WIN TO GET IN?

IMO, at least three and maybe four.  But that depends on how the other teams fare.  Washington and Philadelphia are on long losing streaks.  And Pittsburgh is always dangerous with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on their roster.

It sounds cliched, but the Red Wings have to take each game one at a time and try to win every single one of them.  If they win out, they're in.  Anything less than that, and it's a sweat to the final game against Montreal.

Hang on tight, Red Wings fans!!!!