DETROIT >> They all knew it was inevitable. The playoff reality for the Red Wings was staring right at them, and it was just a matter of time before they ultimately were going to be eliminated.
It finally happened Saturday, as Montreal earned a point in a 1-0 overtime loss against Toronto. That provided the finality for the Wings, who will miss the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season, which happens to be the fourth-longest streak in NHL history (Buffalo’s current 14-year drought is the longest).
As the Wings practiced Sunday, you could sense a little less emotion. They have three games left this week, beginning with Monday’s home finale against Dallas. But after that, it’s another offseason of figuring out to how to get better and make the playoffs, which has proven to be elusive. “We’re out, what else can I say?” coach Todd McLellan said of his feelings.
“We’re out. We’re not happy. We don’t want to be (out of the playoffs). There are different moments throughout the season that you can point to, different aspects of our play that point to being out and that’s where we are right now.
“All that tells us is we have a lot more work to do. We have to get after it. The coaches have to get more out of the players that are here, and the players have to give more when they’re here.”
You can twist and turn the standings a variety of ways, point to different segments of the schedule, but one that stands out is where the Wings stood heading into the mid-February 4 Nations Face-Off —and where the Wings currently stand.
The Wings were 28-22-5 and held the second wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference as the NHL shut down for two weeks for the wildly successful tournament.
But since then, the Wings are 9-13-2, let teams below them — namely Montreal — pass them by, and were never able to recover.
“Disappointing, it’s been disappointing,” captain Dylan Larkin said. “A disappointing stretch of games again in March (4-10-0), allowing teams back into the mix and being passed (in the standings) and not beating teams that you’re fighting with was ultimately the nail in our coffin.
“Very disappointing.”
There was a measure of expectations on the Wings this season, especially coming off such a stirring late-season run last year. The Wings were edged out on the final night of last season on a tiebreaker (regulation victories) by Washington, but the experience and excitement of that run was supposed to fuel the Wings this time around.
But a difficult late season schedule and inconsistent offensive attack, along with a leaky penalty kill — that was a season-long problem — basically did the Wings this season with three games left in the schedule.
“Different seasons, different groups,” Larkin said. “They both don’t feel good. This one is probably more frustrating with where we were at last year and the emotion of it. This year we felt like we had expectations to make the playoffs and we were in a good spot and we ultimately didn’t make it.”
McLellan pointed to a few games right before the break, and shortly after, that were a sort of turning point.
The last game before the break, a 6-3 home loss against Tampa Bay, then a pair of losses to Columbus the week after returning from the break, sent the Wings reeling.
“We talked about the importance of that game (Tampa), and it wasn’t that important to us that night,” McLellan said. “We were down 2-0 right off the bat, 4-0 in the first period, and when you look back on it, was that a turning point? We had big games against Columbus, and we didn’t perform here (lost 5-2) and lost, and we go into the outdoor game and perform fairly well and still lose (5- 3) and that stung a little bit. It took a little while to recover.”
So, how will the Wings come out these final three games (road games Wednesday in New Jersey and Thursday in Toronto)? McLellan and Larkin insist the Wings will play passionately for Monday’s home finale and then the final two games, as well. There’s individual pride at stake, as well as simply wanting to close the season on a positive note.
“There’s always something to play for in this league,” Larkin said. “Always somebody watching and there’s an opportunity, three games, and we had a meeting before the Tampa game (Friday) that there’s always something to play for and I agree with that, and I hope guys understand that. We’re on home ice (Monday), and our fans have been great and we owe them a solid performance.”
Said McLellan: “We’re going to put the equipment on and play in our building, so we better come to win.”