The Detroit Red Wings took on the Boston Bruins last night, finishing the night in a heartbreaking 4-2 loss. This was the team's seventh game without Dylan Larkin. In that time, they've amassed a 3-4-1 record, good for the second wild card spot and just a point ahead of the New York Islanders. Had the Islanders defeated the Montreal Canadiens last night, the Red Wings would currently be on the outside looking in with the playoff picture.
With this loss, the Red Wings need to win at least seven out of the next 12 games to confidently qualify for the playoffs. While they currently control their own destiny, these next few games are imperative to their success. These are the takeaways from last night's bout against Boston:
The Red Wings need Alex DeBrincat
It goes without saying that Alex DeBrincat has been Detroit's best player since Dylan Larkin went down with an injury. The flashy forward has seven points in the last three games, with a goal in last night's game. DeBrincat leads the team with 35 goals and 73 points in 70 games. He's shown time and time again that the team can rely on him. The Red Wings will need everything that they can get from him moving forward.
THAT'S OUR CAT pic.twitter.com/YLSJ4KW3cp
March 22, 2026John Gibson's whiplash-worthy performance
There were times last night that John Gibson looked disengaged. The third goal in particular went through Gibson's five-hole after a nasty turnover in the offensive zone. It was an entirely preventable goal, but, unfortunately, Gibson faltered in that moment, resulting in a 3-2 lead for Boston. He redeemed himself later in the night, though, stopping a Lukas Reichel penalty shot and a few grade-A chances by the Bruins.
If ever there was a time for Gibson to rally, it's now.
Lucas Raymond needs to shoot more
Last week, head coach Todd McLellan emphasized the need for Lucas Raymond to shoot more when he has the puck. This time around, it's manifested in success. Raymond scored a power play goal in the first period, his shot beating Jeremy Swayman without more than breaking a sweat. Raymond registered four shots in last night's game, his highest in seven games.
If he can keep up his selfish streak, the Red Wings should see an uptick in their goal totals. Never would there be a more opportune time for Detroit to pick up its goal-scoring than now.
Swayman's lights-out start
If "almost" s counted for something, the Red Wings would have ran away with the game last night. The team hit multiple posts and had a handful of would-be goals, but they couldn't stop Jeremy Swayman. The starting netminder looked dialed in late in the third period, ending the game with a jaw-dropping .953 save percentage. He stopped 41 of Detroit's shots last night.
Sometimes, good teams get beat out by great goaltending. It's a fact of life in the world of hockey. The biggest takeaway here is to keep up the relentlessness. The Red Wings did as much as they could against Swayman, but, sometimes, they can only do so much. Still, there's no point in not trying, as every goalie has a weakness. It's on the coaching staff to find ways to exploit it.