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Red Wings, Utah Both Out to Bolster Thin Playoff Chances
The playoff hopes of both the Detroit Red Wings and the Utah Hockey Club are fading fast entering their game on Monday night in Salt Lake City. The stakes are high as both teams are battling to keep their postseason dreams alive.
The Red Wings (32-31-6, 70 points) are five points out of the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 13 games remaining. Meanwhile, the Utah Hockey Club (32-27-11, 75 points) is just four points out of the final Western Conference wild-card position with 12 games left. You can keep track of their odds and performances on the NHL Conference Odds & Predictions page.
Detroit Red Wings: Fading Chances
Detroit’s playoff chances are dwindling fast, having posted a dismal 2-9-0 record in their last 11 games. The most recent blow came with a 6-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night. To get more insights into how the Eastern Conference race is shaping up, visit the NHL Atlantic Division Odds & Predictions.
“We have to be honest with each other,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said. “… We talk about wanting to be in the playoffs, but we’re not sure we always want to be in shooting lanes. We’re not sure we want to do some things, and I’m not saying everybody. Do we really want to do it around the net? Do we really want to get hit by a puck? Do we want to do the board work when it’s hard? If the answer is yes to that from everybody, then we have a chance.”
Patrick Kane had a goal and two assists, while Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat each scored a goal. Captain Dylan Larkin also added two assists on Saturday.
“We had a lot of good chances in the first, and you go down 3-1. It’s not the best spot to be,” DeBrincat said. “There was a lot of good. Some bad that we’ve got to clean up before the next game.”
Injury Troubles for the Red Wings
The team is dealing with injuries as well. Defenseman Erik Gustafsson and winger Elmer Soderblom both missed the game after sustaining undisclosed injuries in a 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. William Lagesson replaced Gustafsson, and Tyler Motte took Soderblom’s place in the lineup. To stay updated on player injuries and their impact, check the latest on the NHL Central Division Odds & Predictions.
Ice-Cold Profits Await
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Utah Hockey Club: A Surge in the West
Meanwhile, the Utah Hockey Club kept their playoff hopes alive with a 6-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, marking their third win in four games. Logan Cooley and Alex Kerfoot both scored twice, with Cooley adding an assist to reach 21 goals on the season after scoring 20 last year.
“I think the focus from the beginning, right from the start of the game, the focus, the execution, the urgency was elite,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. “I think everybody was engaged. Everybody was connected. We were really disciplined in the way we had to play against those guys. So (it was a) great effort from the boys.”
The win came against one of the top offenses in the NHL, as the Lightning’s three-game winning streak was snapped by the well-organized Utah defense. You can keep up with the Western Conference playoff race on the NHL Pacific Division Odds & Predictions.
“I’m really happy about the offense we created tonight, but even more proud of the way we defended the rush and the way we closed the middle of the ice,” Tourigny said. “That was a really tough challenge, a tough team to do that against… I think (defenseman Mikhail Sergachev) was really good. Cooley’s line, they were something else. They were really, really good. And really, I think it’s a huge character win.”
Closing the Gap: Who Will Prevail?
As both teams face critical games down the stretch, every point counts. Can Detroit turn things around and keep their playoff dreams alive, or will Utah’s surge continue to keep them in the hunt? Check out the latest Stanley Cup Odds & Predictions on Scores and Stats to see where both teams stand.
