Detroit Red Wings

The Daily: Sabres Making Playoffs Would Put Red Wings #1; Cossa Keeps on Rolling

Been 11 years since Sabres made playoffs

Published

1 year ago

March 6, 2023

Bob Duff

Only the Buffalo Sabres (11 seasons) have missed the playoffs in more consecutive seasons than the Red Wings (six seasons).

A pair of weekend losses all but ended the slim playoff hopes of the Detroit Red Wings. The Wings now sit three points out of 12th place in the East, let alone the six points adrift they are of a postseason position.

That’s the bad news. But believe it or not, there could be worse news on the horizon for Detroit. Currently, the Buffalo Sabres are sitting ninth in the East, three points shy of playoff hockey.

From purely a Red Wings standpoint, the only outcome to the season worse than Detroit missing out on playoff hockey might be if the Sabres were to qualify for postseason play. The Red Wings have missed the playoffs in six successive seasons. That’s the second-longest active streak of playoff absence in the NHL.

The #1 drought belongs to the Sabres. Buffalo hasn’t been part of the playoff picture since the 2010-11 campaign – 12 seasons ago.

Nedeljkovic Back To Griffins

Ville Husso’s return to health was leading to a return to the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins for goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic. With Husso able to start in Sunday’s 3-1 road loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, Nedeljkovic was rejoining Detroit’s top farm club.

He suited up as backup to Magnus Hellberg for Saturday’s 4-1 loss at the New York Islanders. If Husso was unable to answer the bell Sunday, the Red Wings were penciling Nedeljkovic in to make his first NHL appearance since Dec. 8.

Cossa Is Mr. Zero

The current hot streak of Red Wings goaltending prospect Sebastian Cossa was continuing on Sunday. He was making 23 saves as the Toledo Walleye were blanking the Wheeling Nailers 1-0. Cossa and John Lethemon, his goaltending partner for most of the ECHL season, share the league lead with four shutouts apiece.

Rookie netminder Sebastian Cossa built on his recent success in today's 1-0 shutout of the Wheeling Nailers as he picked up his seventh straight win in the Toledo net. Forward Brandon Hawkins did just the same with the lone goal that extended his team https://t.co/voavFYThHR… https://t.co/WSgJskNksu pic.twitter.com/RabltZoXLL

— Toledo Walleye (@ToledoWalleye) March 6, 2023

It was Cossa’s third shutout in four starts. He’s won seven games in a row, a career high. Over that span, Cossa is showing three shutouts, a GAA of 0.86 and a .969 save%.

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

A 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers all but sealed Detroit’s fate in terms of any playoff hopes
As the NHL season is heading into the stretch drive, the Red Wings are finding themselves in a familiar place
Is Grand Rapids Griffins defenseman Albert Johansson displaying that he’s NHL ready?
At ECHL Toledo, Walleye netminder and Red Wings prospect Sebastian Cossa is finding his footing as a rookie pro

Red Wings Next Game

Detroit will be playing host to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET) at Little Caesars Arena. Chicago is 4-1 in the last five games against the Wings at LCA.

Hockey Now Network

Philadelphia: Claude Lemieux’s kid Brendan was a thorn in Detroit’s side as he was making his Philadelphia Flyers debut.

Islanders: Among the newest New York Islanders, forward Pierre Engvall goes one on one with NYI Hockey Now’s Stefan Rosner.

Florida: Could the return of Anthony Duclair from his Achilles injury give the Florida Panthers a little something special to make their final playoff push?

Washington: Former Red Wings defenseman Dylan McIlraith has once again been given a recall by the Washington Capitals from the AHL Hershey Bears.

Pittsburgh: A look back at the first winning streak posted in some time by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Boston: Former Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi fit right in during his debut with the Boston Bruins.

Montreal: These Montreal Canadiens forwards have something to prove over the remainder of the NHL season.