Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff notes that, as of this morning, the Detroit Red Wings still occupy the Eastern Conference’s second Wild Card spot:
Even with Saturday’s loss, Detroit has won seven of the past eight games. Among the teams in the hunt for the Wild Card placings in the East, only the Red Wings are showing any sort of recent life.
The standings show the Ottawa Senators with 62 points and occupying the first Wild Card spot. However, the Sens have lost three in a row.
Detroit sits with 61 points. Boston (60) has dropped two straight and is 5-5 over the past 10 games. Columbus (60) is 4-5-1 through the last 10 outings.
Sitting with 58 points, the Rangers are 5-4-1 over the last 10. The New York Islanders (57) were on a roll, with seven wins in the past 10 games. But they’ve suddenly dropped two in a row.
Of the three teams with 55 points, none among Montreal (3-6-1), Pittsburgh (4-5-1), or Philadelphia (3-6-1) is showing signs of life.
“I think our game’s in a pretty good spot,” [Alex] DeBrincat said. “Obviously not as good (Saturday), but overall we’re doing good things and winning games and, yeah, the feeling’s confident in that room. The break’s going to be nice to get rested and come back full strength.”
Here are the standings as of this morning. Tampa Bay will play against Montreal at 1 PM EST today, so they can increase their lead on the Wings from 1 to 3 points, should they defeat the Canadiens:
