Detroit — The Red Wings are about to tackle a gauntlet that is pretty remarkable.
Beginning with Monday's game in Minnesota, the Wings are embarking on a seven-game segment in which they face seven of the top eight teams in the NHL:
u25ba Monday at Minnesota (29-11-3, 61 points);
u25ba Thursday at New York Rangers (30-13-4, 64 points);
u25ba Feb. 23 vs. Colorado (33-8-4, 70 points);
u25ba Feb. 26 vs. Toronto (30-12-3, 63 points);
u25ba March 1 vs. Carolina (32-11-3, 67 points);
u25ba March 4 at Tampa Bay (31-11-6, 68 points);
u25ba March 5 at Florida (32-10-5, 69 points).