Hard to Find Path to Red Wings Playoff Berth

Doing the math, crunching the numbers in search of a path to the NHL playoffs for the Detroit Red Wings, in all honestly it just doesn’t add up to a happy ending.

On paper, it doesn’t look to be significantly daunting. The Red Wings are three points out of a playoff berth. They still have nine games to play.

However, when you dig deeper in search of a path to that postseason placing, finding a route that works out for Detroit is difficult.

With 77 points, both the New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens are three points ahead of the Wings. If either those teams were to win just three more games, it would mean Detroit must win no less than five games to overtake them. And there’s also the Columbus Blue Jackets at 75 points and with a game in hand on the Red Wings.

Remember, we’re talking about a Detroit team that’s won six times over the past 19 games (6-12-1). The Wings have posted successive victories just once in that span.

Red Wings Facing Toughest Finish

Detroit will be running a gauntlet to the finish line. It’s the toughest remaining schedule of any NHL team according to Tankathon. All nine teams left for the Red Wings to face are currently holding down playoff positions. Overall, those nine opponents hold a combined winning percentage of .612.

Six of Detroit’s remaining nine games are on the road, starting Tuesday against a St. Louis Blues team that has won nine in a row.

Monday work.
@ St. Louis tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/taPjW9PKuW

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 31, 2025

“It comes down to one game, right?” Detroit forward Patrick Kane told the media following Monday’s practice. “Like they’ve won nine in a row and someone’s probably going to stop that at some point.

“So hopefully it’s us and gives us a lot of momentum and confidence the rest of the way.”

The Wings then come home to face Carolina (Friday) and Florida (Sunday). Detroit has lost six in a row to the Hurricanes. The Red Wings are 0-5-1 in their last six home games facing the Panthers.

Must Win Game At Montreal

Next, it’s the must-win game of the season on April 8 at Montreal. It’s the only game the Wings have remaining against a team they are chasing. They can’t afford to fall further behind. Detroit lost 5-1 at the Bell Centre earlier this season. However, the Wings are 4-1 in their last five visits to Montreal.

Four of Detroit’s last five games are on the road and each road trip is a back-to-back scenario. There’s a Florida jaunt to face the Panthers (April 10) and Tampa Bay Lightning (April 11). The Wings won at Florida earlier this season. But they are 2-5-2 in the last nine games there. At Tampa Bay, Detroit was a 5-1 loser this season. They are 4-19 in the last 23 road games against the Lightning.

Coming home to face the Dallas Stars (April 14), the news doesn’t get much better. Dallas is 6-0-2 in the last eight overall against the Red Wings and 4-1-1 in the last six played at Little Caesars Arena.

“The Detroit Red Wings are 3 pts out of a playoff spot with 9 games left.” pic.twitter.com/abkm6LsJ1w

— Britt (@brittytigs) March 31, 2025

The season-ending road trip takes the Wings to New Jersey (April 16) and Toronto (April 17). Detroit is 2-5 in the last seven against the Devils, but a slightly more optimistic 3-4 at New Jersey.

Recently, the Red Wings have also been enjoying some success against the Maple Leafs. They are 5-3 overall and 3-1 at Toronto. Going back further, though, Detroit is 3-8-3 in the club’s past 14 visits to Scotiabank Arena.

At Moneypuck, the Red Wings are calculated with a 5.7% chance of making the playoffs. By comparison, Montreal is at 38.6% and the Rangers are at 32.8%.

It’s data like this that is leading to a Detroit approach of focusing on winning the next game and avoiding any type of big-picture thinking.

“You can look at it, you can study it, but it comes down to winning hockey games,” Kane said. “And obviously we’re gonna have to have a good record here down the stretch.”