The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan posted an article in which he issues praise for surprises, doubt for disappointments, and both points of good and concerning emphasis for the Red Wings going forward.
I try to be optimistic, so we’ll focus on those points:
Three reasons to be optimistic
▶ Mediocre Eastern Conference: There are few, if any, powerhouse teams in the NHL this season. The East, in particular, has a list of teams — all of whom have flaws and don’t have the look of being powerhouses. If the Wings are able to climb into the playoffs, and given the overall mediocrity, they could — they might be as dangerous as any other team.
▶ Road success: The recent four-game sweep in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Seattle boosted the Wings into a playoff spot and shows this team is capable of success away from Little Caesars Arena. The Wings are 13-10-3 on the road, and if they can keep that sort of percentage on the road during the rest of the schedule, it could get them into a playoff spot (given similar success at LCA).
▶ Vibe: There are no numbers, statistics or rankings attached to this. You just feel it and see it. And in the Wings’ locker room, there is a starkly different feeling than in the first three months of the season. This is a much more confident team, and the recent winning has only strengthened their outlook.
