Detroit — Sunday’s game was the beginning of a regular season-ending four-game homestand for the Red Wings.
In the third period, with the Wings rallying against Minnesota and the scoreboard going the Wings’ way in terms of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, it looked like the start to an exhilirating and transformative week.
But it all changed, so rapidly. A late Patrick Kane tripping penalty — after he had just tied the game — led to a Minnesota power-play goal, and ultimately, a 5-4 Wild victory. Also, the scoreboard didn’t help the Wings. Both Ottawa and Philadelphia won to pull away from the pack a little bit in the playoff race.
With no games Monday among the teams on the bubble, the Wings (88 points) find themselves two points behind Ottawa (90 points) for the final wild-card spot. The New York Islanders (89 points) are also ahead of the Wings.
Tuesday’s game against Columbus (88 points) is monumental for both teams. The Wings and Blue Jackets are struggling, and can’t afford another loss. Both teams might need to win all five of their games remaining to have a decent chance to getting into the playoffs.
The Wings were off Monday after playing — and losing — back-to-back games last weekend. The pain of losing Sunday’s game the way they did was apparent. But afterward, the Wings insisted their resiliency will come through against Columbus, knowing the implications and importance of the game.
“We don’t have a choice,” forward Andrew Copp said. “We’re not going to cry ourselves to sleep and bail on the last five games. It’s just not the DNA in the room. It’s not the DNA of our profession in general. Regroup, and we’re going to come with the most amount of intensity and jam that we can bring on Tuesday.
“We’re not six feet under yet.”
They’re not. But a change of direction is needed in these final five games and 10 days of the season, and quick. The Wings have lost six of their last eight games and have lost their last four games at Little Caesars Arena, both streaks decimating their chances of making the playoffs.
Confidence appears to be waning, but coach Todd McLellan feels it’s different. It’s the Wings’ inability to stop an opponent’s uprising, or when a bad break goes against the Wings, shake it off and get back after it.
Too often lately, when something negative goes against the Wings, it leads to yet another goal against the momentum completely turning against the Wings.
“I don’t think we stop the bleeding when we start to bleed,” McLellan said. “Is that confidence? I don’t know. I think that that’s mental fortitude, the ability to dig in and respond when it’s not going well. If we lacked confidence, did we find it between the second and third (periods Sunday, rallying), and come back, come out and play that type of game?
“We just have to stop the bleeding when it starts.”
The Wings need more of those types of momentum swings, from a positive perspective. The third period Sunday was a classic example.
“Sometimes it’s just one shift,” Copp said. “It’s one goal, and then it gets contagious. Winning is contagious. Losing is contagious. But it just takes one thing to feel good about and then it’s the next line, and then everyone starts feeling good about something.
“You’ve seen that happen to us a few times. Unfortunately, it happens the other way, too, and that kind of happened in the second (period Sunday) a little bit.”
After Sunday’s loss, Copp felt it was important for the Wings to the increasing negativity surrounding the Wings and this late season collapse out of the locker room. To limit the increasing pressure, which grows with games dwindling as well as opportunities to skate up the standings,
Somehow, the Wings have to exhale and play freely.
“It feels a little heavy for sure,” Copp said. “It’s on us to not let it creep in. We have to channel some fun and channel some jam. We found it a little bit in the third (period).”
Blue Jackets at Red Wings
▶ Faceoff: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
▶ TV/radio: FDSN/WWJ-950
▶ Notable: The Wings (40-29-8, 88 points) entertain Columbus (38-27-12, 88 points) in a pivotal game for both teams. … Both trail Ottawa (90 points) for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot. … Columbus is winless in its last six games (0-5-1). … D Zach Werenski (Grosse Pointe) is a potential Norris Trophy candidate (57 assists, 78 points).
@tkulfan
