Detroit is moving in the wrong direction in the East playoff race and could end up missing altogether for the 10th straight year
Mar 11, 2026 at 10:15 am ET • 1 min read
For much of the 2025-26 season, the Detroit Red Wings looked like a lock to halt their postseason drought at nine years. However, a late slide has put those hopes in jeopardy as the Eastern Conference wild card race has intensified.
Over its last 12 games, Detroit has gone 4-6-2, and the latest loss was the most devastating. On Tuesday night, the Red Wings held a 4-3 lead over the 15th-place Panthers with 90 seconds remaining. Then Detroit allowed two goals in 75 seconds to lose in regulation -- failing to pick up even one point.
Generally speaking, every team goes through stretches like this over the course of an 82-game season, but the Red Wings couldn't have timed this slide any worse. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators have been rolling of lat and closed the gap. Columbus is just three points behind Detroit for the first wild card spot. Ottawa is six points back with two games in hand.
Even those teams in the rearview mirror wouldn't be all that concerning if the Red Wings were playing good hockey and simply failing to get results, but they've been a pedestrian five-on-five team all year. The team's 50.1% expected goals share in those situations ranks 16th, per Natural Stat Trick, and only three teams score at a lower rate.
When looking at the personnel, those numbers make sense. Offensively, the big three have played at a high level. Lucas Raymond, Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat have all been excellent. Outside of that, it's been a struggle to find consistent contributors. Patrick Kane and James van Riemsdyk are in the twilight of their careers. Andrew Copp and J.T. Compher just don't move the needle enough either.
As the Red Wings hit a skid at the wrong time of year, here are the updated NHL Power Rankings.
All expected goals and goals saved above average data via Natural Stat Trick.
