After a well-earned break following a 4-1 loss in Utah back on Feb. 4, the Red Wings are back in Detroit and gearing up for the stretch run. The team used the time off to rest, recharge, and get some sun - and they needed it. This season’s compressed NHL schedule has been a grind, physically and mentally, and the pause couldn’t have come at a better time.
But now it’s back to business. Head coach Todd McLellan isn’t easing into the restart.
Instead, he’s treating this week like a “mini-training camp,” and for good reason. The Wings are entering the final third of the season, and the same gauntlet they just survived is about to repeat itself.
“We'll review our structure, get them skating and focused again because what we just went through to get to this point is going to happen all over again,” McLellan said.
In other words, the urgency is real. The Wings are sitting at 72 points (33-19-6), tied with Montreal for second in the Atlantic Division.
Montreal has a game in hand, but the race is tight. Tampa Bay leads the division by six points, and while that’s a decent cushion, it’s far from insurmountable - especially with head-to-head matchups still on the calendar.
Just below them, the wild card picture is just as competitive. Buffalo (70 points) and Boston (69 points) are right on Detroit’s heels, each with a game in hand.
Columbus, currently the first team out of the playoff mix, trails Detroit by seven points - and they’ve played two fewer games. That margin can evaporate quickly in a league where three-point games are the norm.
The good news for the Wings? They’ve put themselves in a strong position.
The challenge now is sustaining that momentum and tightening up the details. That’s where McLellan’s mini-camp comes in.
It’s about more than just knocking off the rust - it’s about sharpening systems, reconnecting lines, and making sure the team is mentally locked in for what’s coming next.
This is the kind of stretch that separates playoff teams from playoff hopefuls. Every point matters, every shift counts, and the Wings know it.
They’ve battled their way into a solid spot, but the work is far from over. The second half of this season is going to be a sprint - and Detroit’s lacing up for the run.