The Daily: East Forgiving of Red Wings’ Loss; Nelson Update

The Detroit Red Wings’ optimism about their chase to make the playoffs is about new coach Todd McLellan and a power play that has produced nine goals in five games.

Let’s also not forget that Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat could also all score 30 or more goals. Plus, the team is staying out of the penalty box.

But the best thing the Red Wings have going lately is that most of the teams competing for an Eastern Conference wildcard spot have been bad to mediocre.

Although the Red Wings lost an important game to Columbus Thursday, the Blue Jackets were the only team that gained significant ground.

The Blue Jackets and Red Wings are tied for the two wildcard spots at 66 points, and the none of the seven teams immediately below them have been better than .500 over the past 10 games.

The Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers and Boston Bruins are four points below them. The Senators and Rangers are both 5-5 in their last 10, and the fading Bruins are 3-5-2.

The Montreal Canadiens are five points back, and they are 4-6 in their last 10. The Philadelphia Flyers are six points back and they sit 4-4-2 in their last 10.

The New York Islanders have gone 5-5 just to be seven points back, and the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-5-1 in their last 10, are nine back.

The Eastern Conference has been overly forgiving down the stretch.

The NHL is expecting one of its largest crowds ever at this weekend's outdoor game in Columbus 👀

Steve Mayer, president of NHL content and events, says more than 90,000 fans are set to attend the Red Wings and Blue Jackets' #StadiumSeries clash at Ohio Stadium 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/ejYx04oAVh

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 27, 2025

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

Coach Todd McLellan called out his captain Dylan Larkin for being “missing” in the big game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

What has happened to Detroit’s defensive play? Todd McLellan‘s team has given up four or more goals in five of the last six games.

Detroit Paywall story: The Red Wings’ ability to stay out of the penalty box has played a role in their success under McLellan. To subscribe to DHN+ stories, click here. 

Red Wings Extra

Detroit technically played the NHL’s first outdoor game when the team played against a team comprised of inmates from the prison in Marquette, Mich. But there was no official score from exhibition. In terms of official games, the Red Wings are 2-2 in outdoor games. They beat the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field (2009), lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a shootout at Michigan Stadium (2014), beat the Colorado Avalance at Coors Field (2016) and fell to Toronto in overtime at BMO Field in Toronto (2017) .

Hockey Now Network

Boston: How the Trent Frederic injury impacts what Boston will do at the NHL trade deadline. Boston Bruins.

Colorado: Valeri Nichushkin’s return from injury made a different in against the Devils. Colorado Avalanche 

New Jersey: James Nichols explains why the Devils need to give up the Ondrej Palat first-line experiment. New Jersey Devils. 

New York Islanders: GM Lou Lamoriello has not given up trying to sign Brock Nelson. New York Islanders 

Pittsburgh: Dan Kingerski writes that the Penguins finally showed some guts and gumption and came away with a win. Pittsburgh Penguins.