The Detroit Red Wings won again tonight defeating the Boston Bruins 6-3 behind an Anthony Mantha hat trick.
The win marked Detroit’s 7th win in their last 10 games that included victories over the likes of the San Jose Sharks, Las Vegas Golden Knights, and New York Islanders all teams who’ll be heading to the playoffs this season. Aside from that apparent silver lining, Detroit’s top lines have been playing very well while they rotate in and out players from Grand Rapids.
The problem with all of this though is it’s for the most part completely meaningless.
Again it’s nice to see some of the younger guys get their ice time and have success but the Red Wings have already been long eliminated from the postseason and are killing their chances to move to the top of the draft list this summer, in a year – not to mention – when it’s extremely beneficial to be among the top two picks. Sure you can say that any offseason but lets not downplay what Jack Hughes or even Kaapo Kakko will be to the table as a consolation prize.
With tonight’s win the Red Wings have pulled ahead of Buffalo for 27th in the League with three games left to play.
The Wings play the Sabres the final game of the season which will be the finale for both teams this 2018-19 campaign. Vital lottery points could very much be had there.
Now catching Ottawa for the last in the League is certainly out of the question as you gotta tip your hat to the Sens for really finding a way to suck this year. However Los Angeles still has a game in hand to pick up some points while New Jersey has three games remaining against the Rangers, Carolina and Florida. The Panthers and Rangers have already been eliminated however the Hurricanes are fighting for the final playoff spot in the East so we can probably expect nose to the grind type of game from Carolina.
For Detroit, aside from their finale against Buffalo, they do have a home-and-home against the Penguins who are not only trying to hold off Columbus for third in the Metropolitan Division but too are technically still fighting for a playoff spot in general.
Needless to say, there’s still time, with a little help for the Red Wings to fall in the standings to better their lottery chances this Summer. So please, please, please Detroit don’t win another game this season!