The Detroit Red Wings are facing a tough contest to make it to the playoffs this year and are by no means certainties to advance to the elimination rounds of the Stanley Cup.
The Red Wings made a relatively quiet start to the season late last year, but really hit their stride around the Christmas period, going on an unprecedented 14 point streak. With Dylan Larkin leading the charge, the Red Wings shot up the Eastern Conference standings and made the opposition take notice.
However, as the new year kicked in, the Red Wings began to have problems scoring goals on a regular basis, and first-choice goaltender Jimmy Howard struggled behind the net.