Expecting the Red Wings to be playoff-hungry even as the preseason begins

Sportsnet’s Rory Boylen offers “one thing to remember about each NHL team as the preseason begins,” and here’s what he has to say about the Red Wings:

Detroit Red Wings: They missed last season’s playoffs only by the tiebreaker

It’s been a long time coming for the “Yzerplan” as Steve Yzerman begins his sixth year as GM of the Red Wings. Point totals have been climbing, and the team finished with 91 last season — their most since the last time they made the playoffs in 2015-16.

But that point total and a good finish weren’t enough to claim the East’s second wild card spot. Detroit got points in each of its last four games, and won the last three, which was enough to tie the Capitals in points. However, they needed to leap over the Caps (who also won their last three games) since Washington finished with five more regulation wins (the first tiebreaker) than the Wings.

Two critical games down the stretch turned out to be the difference, with Washington beating Detroit 4-3 in OT on home ice in late March, and then 2-1 on the road in the second last game of the regular season. One bounce really could have got Detroit in.

But now everyone starts back at zero and the Atlantic Division itself is going to be a heck of a competition to outlast. Are the Red Wings the favourites to claim a wild card spot, or even leap over one of the Big Four out front? Ottawa, Buffalo and even Montreal will all have something to say about that.

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