The Eastern Conference for the NHL playoffs are a log jam at the bottom. With four teams fighting for two spots the Eastern Conference the final game of the season mean everything. The Red Wings have been battered by injuries, but with their pedigree and experience, expect Detroit to make it 23 straight postseason appearances.
| EASTERN | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | ROW | SOW | SOL | HOME | ROAD | GF | GA | DIFF | L10 | STRK |
| z - Boston | 79 | 53 | 18 | 8 | 114 | 50 | 3 | 5 | 30-7-3 | 23-11-5 | 254 | 171 | +83 | 6-1-3 | Lost 1 |
| y - Pittsburgh | 79 | 50 | 24 | 5 | 105 | 44 | 6 | 2 | 27-9-2 | 23-15-3 | 240 | 197 | +43 | 5-5-0 | Won 1 |
| x - Montreal | 79 | 45 | 27 | 7 | 97 | 39 | 6 | 3 | 22-12-5 | 23-15-2 | 212 | 199 | +13 | 8-2-0 | Won 2 |
| x - Tampa Bay | 79 | 43 | 27 | 9 | 95 | 36 | 7 | 6 | 23-10-6 | 20-17-3 | 232 | 211 | +21 | 5-3-2 | Won 1 |
| x - NY Rangers | 80 | 44 | 31 | 5 | 93 | 40 | 4 | 3 | 19-17-4 | 25-14-1 | 216 | 191 | +25 | 7-2-1 | Won 1 |
| x - Philadelphia | 79 | 41 | 29 | 9 | 91 | 38 | 3 | 7 | 24-14-2 | 17-15-7 | 225 | 222 | +3 | 4-4-2 | Won 2 |
| Detroit | 79 | 38 | 27 | 14 | 90 | 33 | 5 | 8 | 18-12-10 | 20-15-4 | 215 | 224 | -9 | 6-3-1 | Won 1 |
| Columbus | 79 | 41 | 31 | 7 | 89 | 36 | 5 | 2 | 22-15-4 | 19-16-3 | 223 | 210 | +13 | 5-4-1 | Won 2 |
| Washington | 79 | 36 | 30 | 13 | 85 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 20-13-6 | 16-17-7 | 226 | 237 | -11 | 4-3-3 | Won 2 |
| New Jersey | 79 | 34 | 29 | 16 | 84 | 34 | 0 | 11 | 20-11-8 | 14-18-8 | 191 | 201 | -10 | 5-2-3 | Lost 1 |
Courtesy of ESPN
Red Wings make the playoffs if: They hold on and win one more game. The Flyers clinched the playoffs Tuesday and Detroit is only one point behind them. If not for injuries to their defensemen and goalies Detroit could be a high-ranking team in the weaker Eastern Conference, but Red Wings have playoffs in their blood and have been to 22 straight postseasons. If Detroit can heal up they could be a force in the east.
Red Wings don’t make the playoffs if: Their injuries hinder them to a point where they can’t contend. The Red Wings will most likely make the postseason, but past that is anyones guess. Missing Johan Frazen, Stephen Weiss and Darren Helm is hard for any team to overcome, but Detroit is experienced enough to overcome. The power of Detroit is all based on their ability to get healthy and if they remain battered and bruised they will be in for a short stay in the playoffs. With the Penguins being the projected opponent at the moment, the Red Wings need to get healthy as fast as possible.
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