The Detroit Red Wings continue to hang onto the Atlantic Division lead by a thread. Three red-hot teams are right on their tail, with the Tampa Bay Lightning leading the charge. Tampa is just one point behind Detroit with two games in hand. The Montreal Canadiens are two points back, also with two games in hand. And the Buffalo Sabres sit at six points back, but with three games in hand.
There's no room for error if you're the Red Wings. On Thursday night, they skated away with a loser point after falling in overtime against the Pittsburgh Penguins. For this Saturday matinee, their best bet to keep their lead in the Atlantic is to snag two points.
Buffalo, Montreal, and Tampa are all in action on Saturday, so those two points are non-negotiable as the playoff races heat up here in the second half of the season. In recent years, second halves haven't been kind of the Wings, and they're already 0 for 1.
Dylan Larkin officially snags a spot in Milan, Alex DeBrincat snubbed
Dylan Larkin will enter the 2026 Olympics as one of the most versatile players on Team USA. Elite skating, tenacity, and his tendency to score early and often are key traits to his game. When he got the call from general manager Bill Guerin, Larkin sounded fired up to help Team USA finish what it started at the 4 Nations.
As for Alex DeBrincat? Hate to say it, but he was left off the roster. It's a shame, given the year he has had, with 41 points and 21 goals in Detroit's first 42 contests. He's particularly been a threat on the power play, but even that didn't help. DeBrincat will sit this one out, but there will be other international tournaments.
Patrick Kane was another notable name left off Team USA. Kane has missed 16 games for the Red Wings this season after suffering multiple injuries, and that may have had something to do with him being left off the roster. The 2026 Olympics were most likely the last chance Kane had to grace the international stage.
Eddie Genborg will be ready for North American hockey
It seems like Red Wings prospect Eddie Genborg is a recurring name in these news roundups. Genborg, taken 44th overall in 2025, has six points and two goals across five games so far at the World Juniors. He's been one of Team Sweden's most productive players, but Genborg has been one of the most physical players out there.
While Genborg chastised Team USA's play in a recent matchup, don't mistake that for him not craving contact. Genborg even implied he enjoyed it, saying, “Yes, they (Team USA) are quite dirty actually. But I like to play matches where it is physical, and the level of competition is high. Those are my matches.”
Genborg will be one to watch moving forward. Even as the Red Wings start looking like contenders, raising the odds that they'll start dishing off prospects to acquire proven, outside talent, Genborg is the type of player you want on a checking line. He's one fans will want to see staying in the system.