The Detroit Red Wings may have just gotten the biggest win of their season on Friday night against the Buffalo Sabres.
With their playoff hopes on the line, the Red Wings pulled out a 5-2 win at the KeyBank Center. The Sabres entered the contest with back-to-back losses. That was something the Wings capitalized on early. Detroit jumped out to a 3-0 lead, getting a crucial first-period tally from Marco Kasper.
But beyond the evidently great game from the Red Wings, the victory kept the club in the playoff hunt. The Wings now have 86 points and pulled even with the Ottawa Senators. The Wings are one point behind the New York Islanders for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Had the Red Wings, however, they would have remained three points behind the Islanders and two behind the Senators. That daylight between the Red Wings and the teams ahead of them might have been too much to overcome.
There’s another powerful reason why this win could mean so much to the Red Wings’ playoff hunt.
Red Wings looking to get off the skids for good
Heading into Friday night’s showdown, the Red Wings had lost back-to-back games. Both games were against teams they are chasing. The 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins and the 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Senators had the Red Wings on the ropes.
Now, the Wings broke the streak and have a chance to get off the skids for good. Yes, the Wings are 4-5-1 in their last 10. But that’s in the past. The chance here is to start over and get the momentum back on track. In that case, the Red Wings have a chance to get hot right into the playoffs.
Detroit has a chance to keep it going on Saturday night against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers are a team that’s chasing the Red Wings. So, a win by Philly would help close the gap. But a win by Detroit, coupled with some help from the other clubs, could propel the Red Wings back into a playoff spot when the night’s games are done.
Red Wings fans should keep in mind that the Wings are one point behind the Islanders and have a game in hand. That game could mean the difference between moving on and going home.
That’s why the path forward is simple: Win, and you’re in.