The Free Press’s Helene St. James discusses the concept that the Red Wings will be playing two “four-point” games in the standings when they face the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight (7 PM EST start on FanDuel SportsNet Detroit/FanDuel SportsNet Ohio/97.1 FM) and in Saturday’s Stadium Series:
It’s a battle for playoff positioning. The Wings (30-22-6, 66 points) occupy the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, and the Blue Jackets (28-22-8, 64 points) are right behind them.
If the Wings win both games, they would not only bank four points, they’d keep them from the Blue Jackets, further securing a foothold inside the playoff picture. That’s why these points hold extra value.
Wednesday was a scheduled day off for the Wings, after practices and three games had them on the ice eight straight days. The Wings have collected five of six possible points since emerging from the 4 Nations Face-Off break, rolling along despite losing Andrew Copp to season-ending shoulder surgery and Michael Rasmussen being day-to-day after sustaining a blow to the head; both were injured last weekend.
Thursday’s game is one of just 10 home games remaining for the Wings. They have 14 road games left, which includes five of their last six games, highlighted by a back-to-back, at the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning, and the fellow playoff-contending New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs. Four points in three days this week — for an eight-point swing — over the next two days would go a long ways toward shoring up a playoff spot before a hectic finish to the schedule.
The Red Wings are simply at a point in their season where every game feels like a playoff game, because the Red Wings are attempting to hang onto their Wild Card spot, if not push the Tampa Bay Lightning for 3rd in the Atlantic Division…
While the Columbus Blue Jackets are not only hoping to hang onto their Wild Card spot, but also push the New Jersey Devils for 3rd in the Atlantic Division:
