DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings slid into a wild card playoff berth exactly one year ago today, but they didn’t stay there long.
A three-game losing skid prompted a sell-off before of the trade deadline, and the team plummeted.
The prognosis is significantly brighter a year later. After defeating the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 Thursday on Patrick Kane’s goal at 3:42 of overtime, the Red Wings moved one point ahead of Tampa Bay into the top wild card place in the East, creating a six-point lead over a pack of pursuers.
This team is considerably deeper, more skilled, and more experienced than the one from last season, and they believe they will be in the playoffs for the long haul.
“This year, we’re still fighting, but it’s difficult,” coach Derek Lalonde remarked. “Our last 22 games (last season) were against an American Hockey League-plus squad, so this is really different. We’ve gone deeper. Last year, we were approaching the playoff line before the (trade) deadline. I believe the group overachieved much.
“This year, it doesn’t feel that way. Obviously, Vegas does not feel this way. Once again, we were the underdog. We should’ve been. Full credit to our opponent. This feels a little odd. We can win in several ways. “Depth in all three positions.”
Dylan Larkin knotted the game at 1-1 with his team-leading 25th goal on the power play at 12:02 in the third period. He also assisted Kane’s 10th goal, giving the team an NHL-high 12 players with ten or more goals.
The depth is the key reason Larkin believes this team will last longer than last year’s club.
“I think we’re in a good spot now but we want more,” Larkin was quoted as saying. “We don’t know what the trade deadline will be like, but we know what happened last year and we’re in a stronger position now. But we aren’t satisfied. We demand more and will keep pressing.
