Stanley Has Left The Building

Saturday was the day before the day before Christmas, which any Seinfeld can tell you is Festivus, and a key part of the Festivus celebration is the airing of the grievances. Which brings us to the Detroit Red Wings and their fallacy that they were still playoff contenders entering Saturday’s game at Boston against the Bruins. In a proverbial four-point game, the Wings fell 3-1 to the Bruins, dropping 10 points behind Boston for the third and final Atlantic Division, and ending the charade that they still maintained a legitimate chance of earning a postseason place. The Bruins also maintain a game in hand on the Wings, as if that matters at this point. “We’re finding ways not to win here,… Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard told detroitredwings.com, one of the most honest answers he could offer. Yes they are. The Wings keep talking about how they are playing well, perhaps even better than they did a year ago when they hit the holiday break just six points shy of a playoff spot. And yet they find themselves further from the objective. “I think we’re doing a lot of good things out there,… Howard said. “We’re just not getting results. We’re working on it. Every single day we’re working on it in practice. “For some strange reason, we’re not getting the results right now.… Actually, the reason isn’t all that strange, nor is it difficult to reason out. In fact, it’s quite simple. From top to bottom, the Wings aren’t good enough. That’s not meant as an insult, but as a statement of fact. The Wings try. No one can question their effort. “It’s obviously an even game and they found a way to make one more play than us,… Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. “We’ve got to find a way when we get back from Christmas. It’s every night like this. The same thing on Wednesday (a 4-3 loss at Philadelphia). It’s a tie game in the third and they make a play on a rush. Same thing tonight. They make a play on a rush. “We’ve got to find a way to make a play to make a difference in the game.… This is what happens in sports. The good teams make the plays, and make the bad teams pay. The Wings can never say this for public consumption, but the fact of the matter is that the worst thing this team can do now for the good of the future of the franchise is to start finding a way. Have you seen footage of Rasmus Dahlin? If not, find some. Right now. The Swedish defenseman is the consensus No. 1 overall choice for the 2018 NHL entry draft, and if you’ve watched the Detroit defense handle the puck at all this season, you know how desperately the Wings need a guy like Dahlin. For all intents and purposes, this season is over for the Wings. No team 10 or more points out at the Christmas break last season made the playoffs. “Yeah, you look at the standings, it’s black and white,… Detroit center Dylan Larkin said. “It’s right there.… As former Wings forward Dave (Tiger) Williams was wont to say, the Wings are “done like dinner.… Stanley has left the building. The focus going forward must be on Rasmus. Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer