HSJ on the Wings’ playoff push

From the Free Press’s Helene St. James’ practice report:

Entering Wednesday, the Wings were also 15 points out of third place in the Atlantic Division. And this even as the Wings have played well through the first half but haven’t once won more than four games in a row. Now comes a schedule that shows 20 games on the road, including two five-game trips.

Hence the Wings look for inspiration from the 2015-16 Philadelphia Flyers, who went on an 18-7-5 run and made the playoffs; to the 2014-15 Minnesota Wild, which went on a 28-9-3 run and reached the playoffs; to the 2014-15 Ottawa Senators, who went on a 23-4-4 run and made the playoffs.

“The past hasn’t predicted a run, that’s why all of you and pretty much everybody in the hockey world would bet against us right now,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “I get that. I understand the past says that we haven’t gone on a run. Where do you get confidence from that? One would be history – I don’t know where Ottawa’s run came from that year, I don’t know where Philly’s run came from a couple years ago, but all of a sudden they got hot and they couldn’t lose.

“I know we have the players to do it. I know that we’ve built as a team. I think we play good hockey almost every single night. We just need to get that little fraction better on a night-by-night basis, gain that confidence and go. I understand why people wouldn’t believe me. I have no problem with that. I don’t care what anybody else thinks. I care what the group in this room thinks.  And in the end it doesn’t really matter what any of think, it matters what we do.”

Continued

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George Malik

My name is George Malik, and I'm the Malik Report's editor/blogger/poster. I have been blogging about the Red Wings since 2006, and have worked with MLive and Kukla's Korner. Thank you for reading!

9 thoughts on “HSJ on the Wings’ playoff push”

  2. So 3 teams went on a miraculous run. While hundreds of other teams in this exact same position did nothing extraordinary and ended their seasons in pretty much the same spot.

    But hey, if 3 teams did it, maybe we can be the 4th?

    1. I don’t think it is realistic either, at all. But they can’t come out and say that. By all reports the Wings have let the rest of the teams know that they will be selling at the TDL, so I think they know their situation. Or at least I hope so.

      1. Some honesty might be refreshing. Why not this:

        We’re really disappointed where we are at in the standings. We expected better. And we know it would take a miracle run at this stage to make it. But it doesn’t mean we are giving up. These last 34 games are a chance for these players to fight for jobs next year. Because we know changes are coming.

        I would respect that more than this naive outlook. I also don’t buy the excuse of what else are they supposed to say. Read above. Be honest. Be angry. What’s next…Kenny saying the games between now and the deadline are important? I thought it was Thanksgiving and Christmas, then Christmas and the bye week, then the bye until the all-star break. Just keep kicking the can down the road Kenny!

        1. What you suggested would probably be received better by the fan base at this point. I do want everyone to keep playing hard until the last game. If they can improve as a group, especially the young guys, that sets them up better for next season.

    2. I’m with you Fatty. There’s no reason to have optimism. If only the coach would better communicate that to the team.

  3. The coach quit on the team that’s good for morale! Spoken like a true person thats never even touched the ice.

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