Detroit — There is a path for the Red Wings to make the playoffs, but it isn't going to be easy. Basically, it's the winning a lot of their seven games left after Friday's 5-3 victory over Carolina - and the teams in front of the Wings losing more than half of their games.

At the start of the 2024-25 NHL season, some predicted that the Detroit Red Wings-- with one of the proudest histories among the league's 32 clubs -- would make their triumphant return to the postseason field.

In two weeks, the Detroit Red Wings will either be preparing for the playoffs for the first time in nine years – or for a long offseason. That's how little time they have left. Between now and the end of the regular season on April 17 lies just eight games.