The Detroit Red Wings have 14 games to go. They currently find themselves in the first Wild Card spot in the NHL’s crowded Eastern Conference. The pressure is on the Red Wings to break their current nine-year playoff drought.
The Red Wings are going to need production down the stretch. They're going to lean on these three Red Wings as they push for the playoffs through the final leg of the season.
John Gibson: The elite goaltender
Since December, Gibson has been everything the Red Wings envisioned and more when they acquired him from the Anaheim Ducks. Gibson has appeared in 45 games, posting a 25-15-3 record, a 2.56 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.
Gibson finds himself in a tie for the sixth most wins in the NHL and in 13th for GAA. While his first 15 games were a struggle, (a record of 6-7-1, a GAA of 3.58 and a SV% of .869), he's quickly come into his own in Detroit. Keeping him at a high level is an integral component for the team's success.
The Red Wings have struggled to score throughout the season, so Gibson will be tasked with a heavy workload to finish out the regular season. With only one back-to-back remaining on the schedule, there is a real possibility that the Red Wings ride Gibson for at least 13 of the remaining 14 games.
Moritz Seider: The star defender
Seider is on pace for the best offensive season of his career. He's recorded nine goals and 38 assists for 47 points while quarterbacking the Red Wings’ top power play unit. In addition, Seider is averaging 25:36 minutes a night, leading the Red Wings in time on ice per game by a wide margin. The team, sports a minus-three goal differential, making Seider’s plus-17 stand out as an astonishing mark.
With a power play percentage that has dipped to 21.9%, good for the 13th best among all NHL teams, Seider’s role is key in getting the Red Wings’ power play back on track in the NHL’s final month of the regular season.
If Detroit plans on breaking the playoff drought, Seider will need to play his best hockey of his already very strong career. With only one back-to-back left on the schedule, Seider’s minutes are going to rise closer to the 30-minute mark as the Red Wings rely more and more on their 24-year-old star.
Dylan Larkin: The Red Wings’ leader
The Red Wings’ captain, while currently recovering from an injury, will be the catalyst to this offense once he returns. Through 63 games this year, Larkin has produced 28 goals and 27 assists. The top-line center is nothing short of consistent for the Red Wings.
The Red Wings have slumped to a 2-3-1 record since Larkin's injury. They're working hard but failing to generate much in terms of offense. Larkin's impact on both the power play and penalty kill is vital; the team's power play has gone 2-for-15 since his injury. The penalty kill, which has stayed afloat, could really use Larkin’s team leading 52.6% face off percentage.
On March 12, head coach Todd McLellan said that Larkin would remain out for at least two more weeks. This timeline would take Larkin to the end of March, leaving eight games in April for Larkin to return to push Red Wings into the playoffs.