In essence, Detroit Red Wings is in the playoffs now because they can’t afford many more losses – if any at all.
With eight games left, the red wings are on the outside and look at the Eastern Conference playoffs. Therefore, Friday’s home game comes against a Carolina Hurricanes team that has already dressed a post-season with a do-or-die feeling for Detroit.
The red wings (34-33-7, 75 points) entered on Thursday four points behind Montreal for the second jok card in the east, but there are other obstacles in their way. Not only are New York Rangers and Columbus before Detroit, but Red Wings’ last remaining games are all against teams in the playoffs at the moment.
Of the eight games, five are on the road. It increases the need for Detroit to take advantage of being at Hemsis against Carolina.
The red wings have dropped three of their last four matches, although they earned a point in Tuesday’s overtime loss at St. Louis.
“We can either feel sorry for ourselves, which I do not think is a good alternative, or we can come back after that,” said Detroit head coach Todd McLellan. “It’s not like we’re in the middle of the season and can take the time to beep a bit. We don’t have it.”
Red Wings hopes for two points against a Carolina team that has owned Detroit late.
Hurricanes won all three regular seasonal meetings last year and the first two in the year 2-1 victory on March 4 at Detroit and an 4-2 win March 14 in Carolina. Overall, the hurricanes have won six straight over the red wings.
Carolina (46-24-4, 96 points) also has eight matches left, but looks pretty much locked in place # 2 in the Metropolitan Division. The hurricanes entered on Thursday nine points after first place Washington and nine points ahead of third place New Jersey, who also places them in good form for home advantage in the first round of the Stanley Cup final game.
Carolina comes from a 5-1 victory Wednesday at home over Washington, who dressed her seventh playoffs in a row. Other than St. Louis has the hurricanes been the league’s hottest team with 12 wins in their last 14 games.
“We know we are in,” said Carolina head coach Rod Brind’amour. “It was official and I like that we went and took it. We didn’t get it for us.”
Special law can play more a role than usual – given that there will be strength versus strength and weakness versus weakness.
Detroits Power Play is ranked third in the league at 28.4 percent, while Carolina is second in the NHL in penalty of 84.5 percent.
On the other hand, Carolina Ligan’s 24th ranked power play (19.1 percent) while no one is worse than Detroit in the case of killing penalties (69.0 percent).
-Field level media
