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Rough Road Ahead For Red Wings

Detroit facing NHL’s toughest remaining schedule

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Andrew Copp, Red Wings
Red Wings forward Andrew Copp is describing the team's upcoming four-game road trip as a huge test.

The honest truth is that all the recent seven-game win streak did for the Detroit Red Wings was get them back into the NHL playoff race. And the reality of it is that qualifying for postseason play is still going to be an uphill battle for the club.



The chase resumes Thursday with an away date against the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. It’s the first game of a four-game road trip to arenas that have mostly proven to be houses of horrors for the club.

“I don’t know that history, so I’d like to not know it,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said.

Sorry, Todd. We’re going to have to let you in on the secret.

The Red Wings are 1-8-3 in the last 12 meetings with the Panthers. At Florida, they are 1-5-2 through their past eight visits. At Dallas, Detroit is winless in 11 (0-8-3). Overall, the Wings are 2-8-5 in the past 15 games facing the Stars. Philadelphia’s home-ice hoodoo over Detroit is well documented. The Red Wings are 2-18-2 through their past 22 visits to the City of Brotherly Love.

The one glimmer of hope in this potential ordeal is Tampa Bay. Detroit is 4-2 both overall and at Tampa Bay in the past six games. Prior to this run of success, the Red Wings were losers of 17 in a row at Amalie Arena.

First Test Of Many Difficult Exams For Red Wings

“This is a huge test,” admitted Red Wings forward Andrew Copp. “Four good teams, teams that we haven’t really faced yet this year, teams that are above us in the standing. So this is going to be a real good measuring road trip for us.”

In truth, it’s just the first of many difficult challenges ahead for this team.

According to the website Tankathon.com, Detroit is grading out with the most difficult remaining schedule in the NHL. The opponents ahead for the Red Wings show an average winning percentage of .588.

“We play really good teams now,” Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider said. “I think we just should be excited.”

Detroit has four games remaining with Tampa Bay, and three each against Florida and Carolina. Home-and-homes await with the Stars, Minnesota and Vegas. There’s also two remaining games on the slate with surprising Washington and surging Montreal. Single games include Toronto, New Jersey, Colorado and Edmonton.

The Red Wings will be finishing the regular season with four of five on the road. They close with games against the Devils and Maple Leafs.

Currently four points out of a playoff spot, McLellan would rather his team not pay attention to the arduous journey ahead of them.

“I want them to live in the moment and just worry about that,” the Detroit coach said. “It can be hard if you get caught up in all of that stuff. It can take you down or it can put you too far up.

“Put the equipment on and let’s deal with things between Minute 1 and Minute 60 and we’re fine.”

If they do make the playoffs, the Red Wings will know for certain that they’ve earned it.