Red Wings Need a Miracle

Captain Dylan Larkin succinctly understands how difficult it is to make any equation add up to an outcome that ends up with the Detroit Red Wings in the playoffs.

“Yeah, I mean, just makes our road a little harder,” Larkin said.

Just in case you didn’t do the math, here it is: the Montreal Canadiens hold the final Eastern Conference Wild Card for the NHL playoffs with 87 points. The Habs have four games to play. Detroit is sitting with 79 points and five games remaining on the docket.

Being a Red Wings fan in one video pic.twitter.com/ETksDR8WGn

— Everything Hockey (@EHClothing) April 9, 2025

The Red Wings need to go no worse than 5-0 over that five-game span. At the same time, Montreal can do no better than finish 0-3-1. If both of those outcomes were to occur, Detroit finishes with 89 points, while Montreal winds up with 88.

“Anything can happen,” Larkin said.

Amazingly, something very similar has happened previously in NHL history.

Red Wings Need To Emulate 1958-59 Maple Leafs

Detroit fans might not like the idea of embracing any concept involving the Toronto Maple Leafs. In this instance, Wings fans have no other choice.

In the final stages of the 1958-59 NHL season, the Leafs were fifth in six-team league with 55 points. Holding down the fourth and final playoff spot with 62 points were the New York Rangers.

Toronto went 5-0 over the club’s last five games of the season. Meanwhile, the Rangers closed 1-3 (and 1-6 over their last seven games). Toronto edged New York 65-64 for that final playoff spot. Of course, it should be noted that the Leafs beat the Rangers twice in that span. Detroit lost 4-1 at Montreal on Tuesday.

Todd McLellan spoke about Detroit's missed opportunities in the loss to Montreal #LGRW pic.twitter.com/lnddsgB3J6

— FanDuel Sports Network Detroit (@FanDuelSN_DET) April 9, 2025

Is it a longshot that the Red Wings could go 5-0 the rest of the way? Absolutely.

“If we play like that, I think we’re gonna win some hockey games down the stretch,” Larkin said after the loss to Montreal.

At this point, it would be borderline miraculous if the Red Wings were to make the playoffs. But at least they can draw upon the knowledge that such an unlikely accomplishment can be achieved.

“That’s what it is, right?” Red Wings forward Patrick Kane said of the challenge they face. “I mean, we got no choice now. So, obviously we were in a situation that was a huge, huge game for us (at Montreal) and didn’t capitalize, so probably have to run the table now.”