They didn’t win their way into the playoffs but the Detroit Red Wings found their way into the playoffs and this is all that matters to them.
“It wasn’t always pretty for us this year,… Detroit defenseman Danny DeKeyser admitted. “It felt like the last few weeks we really battled hard and gave ourselves a chance to get into the playoffs.
“There were a few days there we were looking at the standings and we were on the outside looking in. It feels pretty good to get back in there this year, that’s for sure.…
After losing 3-2 to the New York Rangers Saturday afternoon at Madison Square Garden in their final game of the regular season, the Wings needed help to secure a playoff position, and they got it when the Ottawa Senators spanked the Boston Bruins 6-1.
The Wings didn’t find out the Boston score until after they’d reached their dressing room following the conclusion of the game.
“Everybody was excited,… DeKeyser said. “It’s a good feeling when you get into the playoffs. Once you’re in there it doesn’t matter how you make it.
“Like I said, the last few weeks we’ve put ourselves in a position to get into the playoffs and try to make a run here. It was a lot of hard work. We got a little help today but that’s how it goes sometimes.
“We’ll take it.…
The players admitted it was a difficult few moments as they walked off the ice until they were informed of the Boston score.
“It was tough thinking - you never know what was going to happen or what the score was,… Detroit forward Dylan Larkin said. “You just say thank you to Ottawa for taking care of business today.…
The Streak Continues The longest active streak of consecutive Stanley Cup playoff appearances, as well as the longest run of post-season appearances in any of the four major North American sports leagues continues for the Red Wings.
“It’s the 25th year we’ve made it,… DeKeyser said. “I don’t know how many times this has happened but we don’t really care.…
The streak officially extended, the Wings admitted that in the dark recesses of their minds, they didn’t want to be the team that ended the run of success.
“I’ll be honest, the last month of the season it’s kind of in your head a little bit, in the back of your head,… DeKeyser admitted. “You don’t want to let guys down who’ve played the last 25 years.
“Everybody who has been in this organization has worked really hard to have that streak and it’s a great honor to put the Red Wing jersey on and go out there and try to keep the streak going.
“I think it’s always in the back of your head a little bit, especially with the season winding down and everyone so close in the standings. It’s something that you’re thinking about a little bit.…
Familiar Foe The Wings will face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round of the playoffs for the second straight spring.
The Lightning won a tight seven-game series a year ago, but this year the team is riddled by injury. Captain Steven Stamkos, their leading goal scorer with 36, is gone following blood clot surgery on his arm. First-pairing defenseman Anton Stralman (fractured fibula) is also out. His partner, Victor Hedman (lower body injury), Tampa Bay’s best defender and gritty forward Ryan Callahan (upper body injury) both missed the last three games of the regular season and their status for the start of the playoffs is uncertain.
Forward Tyler Johnson left Saturday’s game against Montreal with an upper-body injury.
“They still have a lot of weapons,… Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard said. “They have a lot of great players on that team.
“They’re going to be ready to go.…
Why Andersson? When forward Joakim Andersson was recalled from AHL Grand Rapids for the regular season finale, inquiring Red Wings fans demanded to know why and Detroit coach Jeff Blashill was happy to explain his reasoning, citing a lower-body injury to forward Justin Abdelkader in the team’s previous game as key element in his decision.
“I knew Abby was going to play but I didn’t know how he was going to respond and we wanted to make sure we didn’t get caught without a penalty killer on the bench,… Blashill said. “Obviously Andy didn’t get a chance to play much, which is unfortunate but we needed to make sure we had enough penalty killers on the bench.
“I thought (Tomas) Jurco (who came out to make room for Andersson) played good the last couple of games but when you don’t play on either specialty team there’s only so much you can do.
“Having Andy in there, not only is he another penalty killer but it gives it gives me the choice between him and AA (Andreas Athanasiou). AA is a good killer but he doesn’t win faceoffs. Andy wins lots of faceoffs, so it gave me a one-two punch of an extra killer if we needed it.…
Blashill wouldn’t commit to Andersson staying in the lineup as they head forward into the playoffs…
“We’ll decide that as we move along,… Blashill said.
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