Detroit Red Wings Clips March 10, 2016

Transcription

1 Detroit Red Wings Clips March 10, 2016 Detroit Red Wings PAGE 2 Why 'April in the D' could get pretty lonely this year PAGE 3 Red Wings have to look in the mirror before Jets game PAGE 5 Detroit Red Wings, Maple Leafs set to play outdoor Centennial Classic PAGE 6 How to watch tonight's Detroit Red Wings-Winnipeg Jets game PAGE 7 Wings-Leafs taking it back outdoors Jan. 1, 2017 PAGE 8 Analysts: Red Wings playoff streak won t end this year PAGE 10 New Red Wings arena to be named in 60 days PAGE 11 NHL Power Rankings roundup: Red Wings have plummeted in past month PAGE 13 Slumping Red Wings stress urgency as playoff race tightens PAGE 15 NHL: Red Wings to play another outdoor game next season in Toronto PAGE 16 Wings need to play with more urgency' PAGE 18 USA TODAY / Debate: Is the Red Wings' playoff streak in jeopardy?

2 Why 'April in the D' could get pretty lonely this year Brian Manzullo, Detroit Free Press 2:40 a.m. EST March 10, 2016 We all know about the Detroit Red Wings' streak of 24 consecutive playoff appearances. But here's another streak that's quite impressive: The Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons haven't missed the playoffs in the same season since , a span of 33 years. That could change next month. The Red Wings are struggling mightily. They're in their past 10 games after falling 5-3 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night. At , they now sit eighth place in the Eastern Conference at 75 points, with the 73-point Philadelphia Flyers breathing down their necks. The Pistons generated buzz with a solid start to the season last fall and early winter, but have come back down to Earth. They're after Wednesday's big win in Dallas, good for a tie with the Chicago Bulls (32-30) for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. What seemed pretty certain just a couple months ago - the Wings making a 25th straight postseason and the Pistons snapping their 6-year playoff drought - is now in question from both angles. While we're thinking about 1983, you may recall that it was quite a bizarro year for Detroit sports. The Detroit Tigers also missed the playoffs that year, while the Detroit Lions won the NFC Central division and the Michigan Panthers won the USFL championship. Imagine that - the only success Detroit saw that year was on the football field. And consider this: Out of 21 NHL teams that existed in 1983, 16 of them made the postseason. The Red Wings were one of just five teams that didn't make it in. (The NBA had a 12-team playoff in a 23-team league as the Pistons' "Bad Boys" era was beginning to materialize.) There's still time, of course. Maybe the Red Wings and Pistons make a run and both make the postseason. But neither team is trending upward as we head into the final stretch. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

3 Red Wings have to look in the mirror before Jets game Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 4:06 p.m. EST March 9, 2016 The overriding reaction after the Detroit Red Wings flunked their last test was one of introspection. On the heels of getting beaten up by one nonplayoff team, the Wings host another Thursday night, when the Winnipeg Jets come to Joe Louis Arena (7:30 p.m., FSD, NHL Network). The Wings have lost three straight games allowing 14 goals against during that span the latest an egregious outing in a 5-3 loss at Columbus on Tuesday. Every guy needs to take a look in the mirror and say, I need to be way better, coach Jeff Blashill said afterward. Today was a scheduled day off, as the Wings prepare to play three games in four days. The only way that you get better is by looking at yourself and saying, How can I be better individually and how can we be better as a team? Blashill said. You look in the mirror and say, I ve got to get way better. And then you come in on Thursday and, from the drop of the puck, you play your very best. There are 16 games left for the Wings to earn a playoff spot for a 25th straight season, and the recent lack of points have left them clinging to the eighth and last spot in the Eastern Conference. That was the case going into Columbus, too, which made it all the more stunning that the Wings showed so little fight. It was a 4-1 game until the last few minutes of regulation. Games have been important here for a while, let s not kid ourselves, goaltender Jimmy Howard said. We should be in playoff mode. We ve got to find a way, inside this dressing room, the 23 guys that are here, to get the job done. Tuesday s loss wasn t on Howard, beaten twice during 5-on-3 Columbus power plays. It was the skaters who, as forward Brad Richards put it, played as if in quicksand. The details of playoff hockey, Richards said, have to come to the forefront here. Few Wings skaters showed up in Columbus, rookie Andreas Athanasiou being one of them. He scored a goal and made things happen with his speed, even as he played only around 11 minutes. The biggest letdown yet again might have been the power play, which Blashill called as bad as it has been in awhile. It came after the Wings spent the majority of Monday s practice working on it. A little more than a week after he told the Wings that this was the group he wanted, after the NHL trade deadline passed with no moves made, Blashill reiterated that he has a ton of faith in the room. I think we have great leadership and great character throughout the room. 3

4 That badly needs to show through Thursday. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

5 Detroit Red Wings, Maple Leafs set to play outdoor Centennial Classic Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 7:35 p.m. EST March 9, 2016 Detroit, Toronto will get an outdoor rematch Jan. 1, 2017, at BMO Field in Canada in first-ever Centennial Classic Tim Leiweke As Bill Daly put it, thee Detroit Red Wings travel well - and that's why it's so appealing to have them play in marquee games. The Wings' strong fan base has earned them a third outdoors game in three years, as the NHL announced this evening that the Wings will play the Toronto Maple Leafs at BMO Field in Toronto on Jan. 1, Though the game falls on New Year's Day, it is not the Winter Classic, but rather it's being billed by the NHL as the first-ever Centennial Classic. The Winter Classic is expected to be held Jan. 2 (because New Year's Day is a Sunday) in St. Louis. Just last month, the Wings played at Coors Field in Denver against the Colorado Avalanche. At that time, deputy NHL commissioner Bill Daly discussed why the Wings are such a popular choice for outdoors games, having previously played at Wrigley Field against the Blackhawks in the 2009 Winter Classic and having hosted Toronto in the 2014 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium. The Wings are playing outdoors since "What I'd say about the Red Wings, which is to their credit, is they travel well," Daly said. "You go to any NHL arena on any night, and the Red Wings are playing, they've got a lot of fans. That's helpful in outdoor games, and helpful to the league generally. They have a very good following." The league said more details will be released at a later date. One thing playing on New Year's Day has affected, however, is the Wings' traditional New Year's Eve game - they didn't have one on Dec. 31, 2008, nor on Dec. 31, Detroit Free Press LOADED:

6 How to watch tonight's Detroit Red Wings-Winnipeg Jets game Marlowe Alter, Detroit Free Press 3:09 a.m. EST March 10, :30 p.m., FSD, 97.1-FM; Red Wings back home in need of points Tonight's game information Detroit Red Wings ( ) vs. Winnipeg Jets ( ) When: 7:30 p.m. Where: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit. TV: Fox Sports Detroit. Radio: 97.1 FM (List of Red Wings' radio affiliates) Game notes: The Red Wings are clinging to a two-point lead on the final Eastern Conference playoff berth. They are desperate to snap a three-game pointless streak and may have the perfect team to help. The Jets have lost 9 of 11. In the teams' previous meeting this season, Winnipeg sent Jimmy Howard to the showers early in a 4-1 win Dec Blake Wheeler has 18 goals and 41 assists for the Jets, while center Mark Scheifele has a team-leading 21 goals. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

7 Wings-Leafs taking it back outdoors Jan. 1, 2017 Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 7:36 p.m. EST March 9, 2016 Detroit The Red Wings are heading back outdoors to play the Toronto Maple Leafs. The NHL made it official Wednesday with the announcement the two teams will play Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in the first NHL Centennial Classic at Toronto s BMO Field where Major League Soccer's Toronto FC and Canadian Football League's Argonauts play. The game will be a rematch of the 2014 Winter Classic that set a record crowd of 105,491 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. The Maple Leafs won the game, 3-2, in a shootout. The 2017 game will be part of a yearlong Centennial celebration that will feature a variety of special events highlighting the 100th year of the NHL. This meeting of the Red Wings and Maple Leafs offers an ideal launch for a fantastic 2017 the year in which the National Hockey League will celebrate its Centennial, Toronto will commemorate 100 years of NHL play and Canada will observe the 150th anniversary of Confederation, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. Since the Red Wings and Maple Leafs made NHL outdoor history by drawing more than 105,000 people to The Big House in 2014, this unique rematch provides a perfect beginning to an historic year for our League, our Clubs and our fans. This will be the Red Wings fourth outdoor game: 2009 at Wrigley Field against the Blackhawks, 2014 against the Maple Leafs, and last month s game in Denver against the Colorado Avalanche. It s an honor to participate in the first NHL Centennial Classic and celebrate the rich and storied history of both the rivalry between the Red Wings and Maple Leafs and the history of our great league, general manager Ken Holland said. The opportunity to play outdoors against the Maple Leafs in Toronto on New Year s Day will certainly be a memorable experience for our entire organization and our fans. Detroit News LOADED:

8 Analysts: Red Wings playoff streak won t end this year Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 9:04 p.m. EST March 9, 2016 Detroit Judging by talk radio and fan forums, Red Wings fans are in a panic. Tuesday s 5-3 loss to the Blue Jackets spurred concern the franchise s 24 consecutive years of reaching the postseason may be in jeopardy. Hockey analysts, however, aren t feeling the same way. I d be a little surprised if the Red Wings don t make the playoffs, NHL Network analyst E.J. Hradek said. But I will say they need to get at least four points out of these next three home games. They ve let Philadelphia into the discussion. If the playoffs began today, the Red Wings would be in the postseason a 25th consecutive time barely. With 75 points, they d earn the last wild-card spot in the East. But the season doesn t end today, and lurking are the Flyers (73 points, one less game) and Hurricanes (71). In fact, the Senators (70), Devils (69) and Canadiens (68) are in the mix as well. Every team goes through ups and down during a long season, analyst Elliotte Friedman said. I just feel with players such (Henrik) Zetterberg and (Pavel) Datsyuk, they will find the way. That streak means a lot to them. I remember talking with Zetterberg a couple of years ago, shortly after a season-ending victory in Dallas, which they had to win to make the playoffs. He said something along the lines of they weren t going to miss on his watch. But there are alarms are sounding. Few Red Wings are playing well, the special teams (particularly the power play) have struggled, as has goaltender Petr Mrazek. And, the inconsistency from forwards Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar, and their lack of development, is surprising. I remember that overtime goal in Ottawa last season in which Nyquist kept the puck the entire time from the Senators, showed so much skill, and you wondered how good could he be, Friedman said. But he hasn t taken that next step. You do wonder whether the younger players on that roster defer to Datsyuk and Zetterberg. They do need to begin taking ownership. Who s in goal? The Red Wings were off Wednesday, and coach Jeff Blashill gave no indication as to who his starter will be tonight against the Jets Mrazek or Jimmy Howard. 8

9 Jimmy Howard has played better lately, but Mrazek has to get back to the level he was at, Hradek said. They rode Mrazek for a long stretch there when he was going so good, and you can t blame them for it. He showed he has a lot of skill. Blashill sounds off The lack of passion for most of Tuesday s loss disappointed Blashill. I know we have winners the room, Blashill said. They ve proven that time after time after time.... We just need to play better on a consistent basis. We got to step up and play at a much higher level. Blashill brushed off any thought the physical play by the Blue Jackets was a factor. I can t believe it can be an issue, can t believe we re going to let somebody intimidate us, Blashill said. I can t believe we re going to let somebody outwork us or outbattle us. There s no way I can believe the guys in that room are going to let that be an issue. Detroit News LOADED:

10 New Red Wings arena to be named in 60 days Adam Graham, The Detroit News 7:04 p.m. EST March 9, 2016 The name of the Detroit Red Wings new $600 million arena will be announced in the next 60 days, Olympia Entertainment president and CEO Tom Wilson told The Detroit News during a media walk-through of the construction site Wednesday. The inaugural event at the new building, which is due to open in September 2017 and is the centerpiece of the surrounding area known as The District, will likely be a concert, Wilson said. Crews are working six days a week and there are about 300 people on site a day, said site construction manager Sean Hollister. On Wednesday, beams were being erected to the building s frame and crew members were working inside the bowl of the arena, which is about 40 feet below street level. The media was also given a preview of the new arena s suites, which will seat 30 and hold up to 40 people. The suites are twice the size of those at The Palace of Auburn Hills, Wilson said, and will feature a programmable wall of television screens that will be run off of a tablet device. The arena will feature six loading bays Joe Louis Arena has one and The Palace has three which will drastically expedite the loading and unloading process at concerts. Retail, restaurant and other entertainment options are planned for outside the arena, and the existing parking lots will get a facelift with new landscaping and lighting. The hope, Wilson said, is to make the area more walkable so people coming to the game or concert show up early and take advantage of what is on the scene. An outside plaza between the arena and residential units will accommodate 3,000 to 4,000 people and will be able to host entertainment or broadcasts on nights that the new arena, Ford Field or Comerica Park are hosting events. He said the new arena has borrowed ideas from other premier arenas in the country and will be a state-of-the-art facility. The new building will not simply be a new Joe Louis Arena, he said, but will be the epicenter of sports and entertainment in Michigan. We ve been able to take the best of the best of the best, Wilson said. The day we open this, it should be the finest arena in the country, and it s in downtown Detroit. Detroit News LOADED:

11 NHL Power Rankings roundup: Red Wings have plummeted in past month Brendan Savage March 09, 2016 Three weeks ago, the Detroit Red Wings were a top 10 team according to the NHL Power Rankings. They were No. 8, to be specific. But times have changed. After spending six weeks in the top 10, three straight losses none of which were close, by the way have dropped the Red Wings to No. 15. That's down two spots since our last NHL Power Rankings. The three straight losses have left the Red Wings clinging to a two-point lead over the Philadelphia Flyers in the race for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Flyers have a game in hand. Washington was a unanimous No. 1 this week in MLive's NHL Power Rankings roundup with Anaheim and defending champion Chicago checking in second and third, respectively. Here's how the Red Wings fared: NESN.com: 15th, down from 13th last week. What they're saying: "The Red Wings' three-game skid has allowed Philly to climb within two points of them for the second wild-card spot in the East." Sports Illustrated: 17th, down from 14th. What they're saying: "Coach Jeff Blashill says he's not worried about Petr Mrazek's game long-term. Short-term? That's another story. The young keeper has allowed five goals in three of his past seven appearances, posting a mark with a 3.81 goals-against average and.868 save percentage. A team that ranks 23rd in goal scoring can't dig itself out of holes that deep. He needs to be better." CBSSports.com: 14th, down from 11th. What they're saying: "The Wings have slipped a bit in recent weeks and are now two points ahead of the Flyers for the last wild-card spot in the East. Petr Mrazek has been the team's MVP, but he has been awfully shaky of late with a.907 save percentage in his last 12 starts." ESPN.com: 15th, same as last week. What they're saying: "The Red Wings are in their past 10 and are only four points ahead of the Flyers for the second wild-card spot in the East." Bleacher Report: 15th, down from 13th. What they're saying: "The Detroit Red Wings just kind of keep spinning their wheels. One thing was made clear last week: Detroit still isn't as good as Chicago. The Blackhawks beat the Wings twice during the week, including Sunday at United Center. Veteran star forward Pavel Datsyuk... missed Sunday's game with an illness. Let's hope the classy Russian gets well soon. The odds 11

12 still seem good the Wings will extend their 24-season playoff streak, but it's not a lock just yet." Buffalo News: 14th, down from 13th. What they're saying: "Gritty Abdelkader a surprise early pick for Team USA." TSN.ca: 14th, down from seventh. What they're saying: "The Wings held steady at the deadline, but a record since the beginning of February including, most recently, back-to-back three-goal losses to the Blackhawks doesn't inspire a lot of confidence." Michigan Live LOADED:

13 Slumping Red Wings stress urgency as playoff race tightens Ansar Khan March 09, 2016 DETROIT The Detroit Red Wings, for three years in a row, have had to scramble until the final week of the season to get into the playoffs. It doesn't appear this year will be any different. The Philadelphia Flyers are on their heels, two points back, and a couple of other teams aren't far behind in the battle for the final postseason berth in the Eastern Conference. One month remains in the regular season and the Red Wings can't afford many more slip-ups like Tuesday's 5-3 loss in Columbus, when their lack of urgency was alarming. "We should be in playoff mode here for a while," goaltender Jimmy Howard said following the game. "Points are at a premium. We've got teams (closing in). The urgency should have been there but it wasn't at the get-go. We've got to find a way inside this dressing room, the 23 guys that are here, to get the job done." The Red Wings will play three games in four days at home, starting Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets (7:30, Fox Sports Detroit). Coach Jeff Blashill believes this team is too good to repeat Tuesday's performance. "I have a ton of faith in the room, in the guys we have on the team," Blashill said. "I think we have great leadership and great character. But certainly every guy needs to take a look in the mirror and say, 'I need to be way better.' That's the only way you can get better, by looking at ourselves and saying, 'How can I be better individually and how can we be better as a team.' "There's no easy answer, there's no magic pill.... You come out on Thursday and from the drop of the puck you play your very best. It doesn't guarantee victory but it gives you the best chance of victory." The Red Wings have lost three in a row in regulation, equaling a season high skid without a point. "I know we have winners in the room," Blashill said. "They've proven that time after time after time.... We got to step up and play at a much higher level." Said Brad Richards: "This team has been doing it the past few years where March is basically their playoffs. The details of playoff hockey have to come to the forefront here and that wasn't evident over all the 60 minutes of the last few games. It's all different parts of the game that are not complete because we're not winning." Offense, defense and special teams have been issues. "It would be nice to score first so we can feel a little more confident and maybe get two goals," Tomas Tatar said. "We just have to find the net more often and it would be nice if we could start it right off the get-go." Henrik Zetterberg said they must be more careful with the puck. 13

14 "Who has the puck after we have it? Is it us or is it (them)?" Zetterberg said. Red Wings' Jeff Blashill adresses team's lack of physical play Red Wings' Jeff Blashill adresses team's lack of physical play The Blue Jackets were taking it to the Red Wings physically, so much so that rookie Andreas Athanasiou got into his first career fight, with Matt Calvert, early in the third period when Detroit trailed 3-1. Blashill doesn't believe it will be an issue. "I can't believe we're going to let somebody intimidate us," Blashill said. "I can't believe we're going to let somebody outwork us or out-battle us. There's no way I can believe the guys in my room are going to let that be an issue.... We need guys to do some soul searching and say, 'Are we going to take it or are we going to be way harder to play (against).' " Said Zetterberg: "I thought we played physical. Obviously, they probably have more physical style than we do but I thought we stood up well. It was nice to see (Athanasiou) throwing the mitts, and that got us going there." Richards put a positive spin on it. "You learn from it," he said. "You put it in the back seat. There's still lots of hockey left and we're still very much in this." The Red Wings are in their past seven at Joe Louis Arena, where they will play half of their 16 remaining games. "We know we're a good team when we're playing the way we want, and we have a lot of games left to turn this around," Zetterberg said. "Obviously, three (losses) in a row is not good, but we have time." Michigan Live LOADED:

15 NHL: Red Wings to play another outdoor game next season in Toronto Ansar Khan March 09, 2016 DETROIT The long-rumored outdoor game next season between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs was made official Wednesday. The NHL announced the long-time rivals will meet Jan. 1, 2017, at 30,991-seat BMO Field in Toronto. That is home of Major League Soccer's Toronto FC. It will be the first-ever NHL Centennial Classic. In 2017, the NHL will conduct a yearlong Centennial celebration that will feature a variety of ceremonies, recognitions, observances and special events that will highlight 100 years of NHL hockey and also will recognize a number of milestone anniversaries for clubs, including the Maple Leafs. "This meeting of the Red Wings and Maple Leafs offers an ideal launch for a fantastic the year in which the National Hockey League will celebrate its Centennial, Toronto will commemorate 100 years of NHL play and Canada will observe the 150th anniversary of Confederation," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. "Since the Red Wings and Maple Leafs made NHL outdoor history by drawing more than 105,000 people to 'The Big House' in 2014, this unique rematch provides a perfect beginning to an historic year for our league, our clubs and our fans." Additional details surrounding the game -- including broadcast and ticketing information -- will be announced in the coming months. It will be the Red Wings' fourth outdoor game in nine seasons and the second time these teams will meet in the open air. Toronto defeated Detroit 3-2 in a shootout before 105,491 at Michigan Stadium in the 2014 Winter Classic. The Red Wings defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 6-4 at Wrigley Field in 2009 and beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-3 at Coors Field on Feb. 27 in a Stadium Series game. "It's an honor to participate in the first NHL Centennial Classic and celebrate the rich and storied history of both the rivalry between the Red Wings and Maple Leafs and the history of our great league," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "The opportunity to play outdoors against the Maple Leafs in Toronto on New Year's Day will certainly be a memorable experience for our entire organization and our fans." It will be the first outdoor game in Toronto. It also means there will not be a traditional New Year's Eve game during the final season at Joe Louis Arena, before the Red Wings are scheduled to move into their new building in Michigan Live LOADED:

16 Wings need to play with more urgency' By Chuck Pleiness, The Macomb Daily DETROIT >> Riding a three-game losing streak the Detroit Red Wings find themselves having to battle more than ever to extend their playoff streak to 25 seasons. I think we ve just got to play with more urgency, Henrik Zetterberg said. I think we have to be a little more careful with the puck. Who has the puck after we have it? Is it us or is it (them)? We ve just got to get together here and we know what to do, we know we re a good team when we playing the way we want. We have a lot of games left here to turn this around. Obviously, three (losses) in a row is not good, but we have time. Heading into play Wednesday, the Wings are in the second of two wild card spot and are just two points ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers, who have played one less game. They re also just four points up on Carolina and five ahead of Ottawa. We have enough experience in this locker room to look back on it, refocus and regroup, Tomas Tatar said. We have a good stretch ahead of us. We re in the playoffs right now. We just have to play better to hold the spot. We knew it was going to be tough, Tatar added. It s never easy in the NHL to be a playoff team and right now we are there and we have to play better. We know what we have to do. We re doing it every year. We just have to do it. Detroit turned in its worst performance of the season on Tuesday, a 5-3 loss at Columbus. I know we have winners in the room, Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. They ve proven that time after time after time. Those winners in the room, both in terms of in game and maybe in terms of message, we need to step up and play much better. We just need to play much better on a consistent basis. I didn t think we were good enough against Chicago the first game, I thought we were good the second game, (and against Columbus) we were not very good at all. We ve got to step up and play at a much higher level. The Wings play their next three at home beginning Thursday against Winnipeg. Then they host the New York Rangers on Saturday and Toronto Sunday before heading out for four in a row on the road. I have a ton of faith in the room, in the guys we have on the team, Blashill said. I think we have great leadership and a great character, character room. But certainly every guy needs to take a look in the mirror and say I need to be way better. That s the only way you can get better, by looking at ourselves and saying How can I be better individually and how can we be better as a team? It s as simple as that. There s no easy answer, there s no magic pill, Blashill continued. You look in the mirror and say I got to get way better and you come out on Thursday and from the drop of the puck you play your very best. It doesn t guarantee victory but it gives you the best chance of victory. That s all you can do. 16

17 Detroit has 15 games left in the regular season, eight of which are at home. We should be in playoff mode here for a while, Jimmy Howard said. Points are at a premium. We ve got teams coming up our rear end. We ve got to find a way inside this dressing room, the 23 guys that are here, to get the job done. The Wings fell behind 4-1 before making a comeback late in the third period against the Blue Jackets. I feel like it s all about a goal, Tatar said. When we score a goal we start feeling better, the whole team is playing better. It would be nice to score first in a game so we can feel a little more confident and maybe get two goals. We just have to find more often the net and it would be nice if we could start it right off the get go. Macomb Daily LOADED:

18 USA TODAY / Debate: Is the Red Wings' playoff streak in jeopardy? Kevin Allen and Kristen J Shilton, USATODAY 6:29 p.m. EST March 9, 2016 The Detroit Red Wings, losers of three in a row, are only two points ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers, who are in their past six games, for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Detroit missed an opportunity to gain breathing room over the Flyers on Tuesday night, losing 5-3 to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Red Wings have advanced to the playoffs in 24 consecutive seasons, the longest active streak in the NHL. Is this streak in jeopardy? NHL columnist Kevin Allen and digital producer Kristen Shilton weigh in. Allen: It's going to be a wild ride, but it seems unlikely that Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg would let this streak end on his watch. The Red Wings haven't look sharp of late, but their primary problem has been the power play, which ranks 24th. With a lineup that includes Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Tomas Tatar, Gustav Nyquist and Mike Green, among others, the power play unit won't remain ineffective forever. This same cast of characters gave Detroit the second-best power play last season. Nyquist and Tatar in particular are overdue for a hot streak. Shilton: I didn't disagree with the Red Wings' decision not to make any major moves before the trade deadline. And I admire coach Jeff Blashill's defense of his roster as many questioned standing pat. But it takes more than the will of aging stars to grind out wins late in the regular season. Like Detroit, Philadelphia isn't the most talented team. But the Flyers are resilient. They've made adjustments, and they've overcome injuries. Most importantly, they're peaking at the right time. The Red Wings just lost to the Chicago Blackhawks by three goals twice in five days. That raises questions about their ability make adjustments and persevere in this tight race to the finish line. 10 NHL predictions for the stretch run: Ducks the West's best? Allen: Losing to Chicago is no dishonor, and the Red Wings looked sharper in the second loss. I don't believe there were many guys in the trade market that would have given them a better opportunity to win than the current players on their roster. Goalie Petr Mrazek was a force for much of this season, and now he's in the midst of a mini slump (.893 save percentage in his past five games). Given that he is 23, that isn't unexpected. But they will need him to be a difference-maker. Some people believe Dylan Larkin is the key young player here. But it's actually Mrazek. To make the playoffs and/or excel in the playoffs, they will need him to be a difference-maker again. Shilton: I agree that the Red Wings' playoff streak hinges on Mrazek. I'm just not convinced he's at a level yet where he can handle the pressure in a tight playoff race on a team that isn't helping him offensively. Detroit is 22nd in goals scored; Zetterberg and Datsyuk combined only have 25. One of the most important tools for a goalie is confidence, in himself and the guys he's playing with. The Red Wings have been far too inconsistent. They lost five of six, won three straight, and are now back on a losing 18

19 streak. The third period has been a struggle. It's hard to feel confident when the team hasn't found the right formula this late in the year. Allen: The Red Wings' next four games are very important. They will play three home games: against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, the New York Rangers on Saturday and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday. Then, they travel to play the Flyers on Tuesday. As long as they leave Philadelphia with a lead in the race, they are on a path to 25 in a row. Shilton: The Flyers have played one fewer game than the Red Wings, and they ve already won the first head-to-head matchup. It won t be easy for Detroit if it doesn t execute when it matters most. The Red Wings teams in the past have. This one still has something to prove. USA TODAY LOADED: