April 2, 2026, 10:49 a.m. ET
March is mercifully over for the Detroit Red Wings, who now have a higher likelihood of lacking the playoffs than making them.
With eight video games left within the season, the Red Wings’ odds of constructing the playoffs have dropped beneath 40%, in response to PlayoffStatus, because the Wings put together for a giant upcoming street sport in opposition to the Philadelphia Flyers. Though the Wings nonetheless solely path the Columbus Blue Jackets by two factors for the ultimate wild-card spot within the Eastern Conference, extra groups have come right into a crowded playoff image – together with the Flyers, who’re even on factors with the Wings (86).
The Red Wings have benefitted from different current swoons from convention opponents, together with the Blue Jackets (four-game dropping streak) and the Ottawa Senators (three-game dropping streak). That has saved the Red Wings in hanging distance of a playoff spot regardless of one other disappointing March.
While not fairly a must-win, tonight’s sport in Philadelphia is one the Red Wings must preserve themselves within the combine as extra groups vie for wild-card spots.
Here is how the playoff image is growing because the Wings transition from March to April.
NHL standings for Eastern Conference playoff image
Atlantic Division
Top three groups make the playoffs:
- Buffalo Sabres, 100 pts, 75 GP.
- Tampa Bay Lightning, 98 pts, 74 GP.
- Montreal Canadiens, 96 pts, 74 GP.
- Boston Bruins, 94 pts, 75 GP.*
- Ottawa Senators, 86 pts, 74 GP.
- Detroit Red Wings, 86 pts, 74 GP.
- Toronto Maple Leafs, 77 pts, 75 GP.
- Florida Panthers, 74 pts, 74 GP.
Metropolitan Division
Top three groups make the playoffs:
- Carolina Hurricanes, 100 pts, 74 GP.
- Pittsburgh Penguins, 92 pts, 75 GP.
- New York Islanders, 89 pts, 76 GP.
- Columbus Blue Jackets, 88 pts, 75 GP.*
- Philadelphia Flyers, 86 pts, 74 GP.
- Washington Capitals, 85 pts, 75 GP.
- New Jersey Devils, 78 pts, 74 GP.
- New York Rangers, 71 pts, 75 GP.
*Currently in wild-card place.
Wild card
Top two groups make the playoffs:
- Boston Bruins, 94 pts, 75 GP.
- Columbus Blue Jackets, 88 pts, 75 GP.
- Ottawa Senators, 86 pts, 74 GP.
- Detroit Red Wings, 86 pts, 74 GP.
- Philadelphia Flyers, 86 pts, 74 GP.
- Washington Capitals, 85 pts, 75 GP.
According to PlayoffStatus, the Red Wings have a 36% likelihood to make the playoffs and a less-than-1% likelihood to complete with one of many high three seeds within the division. They even have a 3% likelihood to make the Stanley Cup Final and a 1% likelihood to win the Cup.
Red Wings subsequent sport
The Red Wings (39-27-8) go to the Flyers (37-25-12) on Thursday, April 2, at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia in what may very well be a important matchup within the playoff race. The Wings are tenth within the East and the Flyers are eleventh. The high eight make the playoffs.
Red Wings schedule
The Red Wings have 9 video games left within the common season earlier than the Stanley Cup playoffs start. The NHL common season ends Thursday, April 16, 2026. The playoffs are anticipated to start Saturday, April 18.
- April 2: at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
- April 4: at N.Y. Rangers, 12:30 p.m.
- April 5: Minnesota, 1 p.m.
- April 7: Columbus, 7 p.m.
- April 9: Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
- April 11: New Jersey, 5 p.m.
- April 13: at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.
- April 15: at Florida, 7 p.m.
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You can attain Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
