The Daily: No Hares, Just Tortoises in East Wildcard Race; ‘Hawks Surprise

Bob Duff wrote an entertaining story Saturday about the Eastern Conference wildcard race. His point is there are only tortoises and no hares in this race. Nobody is speeding to the finish. It’s a bunch of slowpokes bumping along the course. There’s more meandering than racing.

It should be a sprint to the finish. But it’s shaping up like a marathon.

With at least one wild card race on the line, the Red Wings are 3-9-2 in March. The only reason they are still in the hunt is the New York Islanders have swooned, the Washington Capitals are an imperfect team and the Philadelphia Flyers have problems that even iron-willed John Tortorella can’t fix.

As Duff points out, this is an Eastern Conference wildcard race that no one wants to win.

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Bob Duff explains why the struggling Red Wings still have a chance to secure a playoff spot. Nobody is taking charge in the Eastern Conference wildcard race.
• Michigan State and Michigan play against each other today in the NCAA Regional Final.  Detroit prospects Trey Augustine and Red Savage play for the Spartans and Kienan Draper is on Michigan’s team.
• The Red Wings called up Zach Aston-Reese from Grand Rapids Griffins, but he didn’t play against the Florida Panthers.
• Are the Detroit Red Wings in state of denial when it comes to the Eastern playoff race?

Red Wings Next Game

Detroit’s next opponent is the hottest team in the Atlantic Division. The Tampa Bay Lightning are 8-1-1 and the Red Wings play them Monday as the last game in their five-game road trip. Detroit is 0-2-2 in the first four games of this road trip. The Red Wings have scored five goals in the four games.  The Lightning, meanwhile, haven’t scored fewer than three goals in any game this season. In their 8-1-1 run, the Lightning have outscored opponents, 40-18.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: NHL scout says Bruins are tough no matter who they play. Boston Bruins.

Chicago: The Chicago Blackhawks unexpectedly do the Detroit Red Wings a favor by knocking off the Philadelphia Flyers.

New Jersey: Injured defenseman Dougie Hamilton is “probably” not coming back this season for the New Jersey Devils. 

Pittsburgh: Dan Kingerski slams another unacceptable Pittsburgh Penguins loss. The Penguins play this season has been hard to watch.

San Jose: Believe it or not, Mackenzie Blackwood has had the best season for a San Jose Sharks goalie since the days of Evgeni Nabokov.