(Detroit) On February 28, the Red Wings were in the heart of a six-game winning streak. They held an eight-point lead over the first team excluded from the playoffs. In other words, the cause seemed understood: after seven exclusions in a row, the Red Wings were going to make Hockeytown vibrate again in April.
But things have gotten worse since then. A series of seven defeats in March, including two against the poor Coyotes, weakened their position. The Wings therefore find themselves in an epic four-way fight with the Capitals, the Penguins and the Flyers for the last place giving access to the playoffs.
“With our streak in January and February, when we were eight points ahead, there may have been a little disappointment,” conceded veteran David Perron, after the Wings’ morning practice at Little Caesars Arena. But we must forget that. Would we have taken this situation in match no. 1? Would the fans, the organization, have taken it? I think so. »
There are three teams at 87 points and the Penguins at 86. Three of the four teams still have two games to play; the Flyers, just one. With only 27 wins in regulation, however, the Wings will be in trouble in the event of a tie, because it is this column that acts as the first tiebreaker.
None of this seems to shake the Detroit veterans, however. “It’s normal for a young team that is building to become a playoff team,” believes former Canadian Ben Chiarot. Ups and downs happen. We had a lethargy of seven games in March. It hurt. But we bounced back, we found a sustainable level which gives us the chance to win every night. »
The fact remains that things have been rumbling around here in recent weeks. Questions have been raised about the future of Derek Lalonde, who is completing his second season at the helm of the team. This is because the Wings are threatened with an eighth straight exclusion from the playoffs, which would be the longest drought in the team’s history. For a last series won, we have to go back to spring 2013.
We have a bunker mentality. We try to block out the outside noise and execute the next challenge.
David Perron
What future ?
PHOTO MARK ZALESKI, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
David Perron
Speaking of Sherbrooke, his contract expires this summer. At 35 years old, soon to be 36, he nevertheless wishes to extend the experience in the former city of Cecil Fielder.
“When I look at the other teams in the race with us, we are similar in different ways. But honestly, I think the youth group here in Grand Rapids and our prospects, it’s probably more exciting than the other teams. But every team needs veterans to take the next step and I hope to be one of them. »
Perron has 44 points (16 goals, 28 assists) in 74 games. His production has slowed somewhat compared to last season (24 goals, 56 points), but his Stanley Cup ring from 2019 will certainly work in his favor, when the time comes to negotiate this summer, in Detroit or elsewhere.
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