The Detroit Red Wings announced today that the club will be without both Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp for the next two weeks. This news couldn't have come at a worse time. The Red Wings are just one point ahead of the Boston Bruins in wild card standings and three points away from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Even a single loss could spell doom for the season moving forward.
Tonight, the Red Wings face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning before taking on the Dallas Stars Saturday. Here's how the rest of the schedule will shape up over the next two weeks:
Date | Opponent |
|---|---|
March 12th | Tampa Bay Lightning (away) |
March 14th | Dallas Stars (away) |
March 16th | Calgary Flames (home) |
March 19th | Montreal Canadiens (home) |
March 21st | Boston Bruins (home) |
March 24th | Ottawa Senators (home) |
Four of the six teams they'll have to face off against are division rivals. Five of the six teams are either actively in playoff positions or are vying for a spot in the playoffs.
Red Wings experiencing nightmare scenario
Nobody said contending for the playoffs would be an easy feat. But this playoff push has quickly turned into a worst case scenario for the Red Wings. Few teams can contend without their first line center. Take a look at the Florida Panthers. Since losing Aleksander Barkov for the season, the team has tumbled in the standings and are now fighting for a lottery spot.
To make matters worse, there is no telling whether or not Larkin or Copp will be good to go on the 27th against the Buffalo Sabres. Head coach Todd McLellan informed the media that the Red Wings will be "reassessing" both of their injuries. At that point in the season, the Red Wings will either be fighting for a playoff spot, or they'll be well out of the picture. If the former is clear, they'll likely try their best to get Copp and Larkin back in teh lineup. If the latter is more apparent, they may very well shut down the players for the season.
Red Wings relying on reinforcements, depth
Having said that, there's no point in wallowing. The Red Wings have a job to do and need to operate under the assumption that no one is coming to save them. They've received reinforcements from Grand Rapids to bolster their lineup. There are a multitude of talented players that can use this opporutnity to step into bigger shoes. The season is only over if the Red Wings choose to accept their fate.
This upcoming gauntlet will be the toughest of the season. Every single player will need to fire on all cylinders in order to stay afloat. This is the time where good teams show that they're great. These moments of adversity are what shape team cultures moving forward. It's time for the Red Wings to show they have what it takes to contend in the playoffs.