April 2, 2026, 10:49 a.m. ET
March is mercifully over for the Detroit Red Wings, who now have a greater chance of missing the playoffs than making them.
With eight games left in the season, the Red Wings’ odds of making the playoffs have dropped below 40%, according to PlayoffStatus, as the Wings prepare for a big upcoming road game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Though the Wings still only trail the Columbus Blue Jackets by two points for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, more teams have come into a crowded playoff picture – including the Flyers, who are even on points with the Wings (86).
The Red Wings have benefitted from other recent swoons from conference opponents, including the Blue Jackets (four-game losing streak) and the Ottawa Senators (three-game losing streak). That has kept the Red Wings in striking distance of a playoff spot despite another disappointing March.
While not quite a must-win, tonight’s game in Philadelphia is one the Red Wings need to keep themselves in the mix as more teams vie for wild-card spots.
Here is how the playoff picture is developing as the Wings transition from March to April.
NHL standings for Eastern Conference playoff picture
Atlantic Division
Top three teams make the playoffs:
- Buffalo Sabres, 100 pts, 75 GP.
- Tampa Bay Lightning, 98 pts, 74 GP.
- Montreal Canadiens, 96 pts, 74 GP.
- Boston Bruins, 94 pts, 75 GP.*
- Ottawa Senators, 86 pts, 74 GP.
- Detroit Red Wings, 86 pts, 74 GP.
- Toronto Maple Leafs, 77 pts, 75 GP.
- Florida Panthers, 74 pts, 74 GP.
Metropolitan Division
Top three teams make the playoffs:
- Carolina Hurricanes, 100 pts, 74 GP.
- Pittsburgh Penguins, 92 pts, 75 GP.
- New York Islanders, 89 pts, 76 GP.
- Columbus Blue Jackets, 88 pts, 75 GP.*
- Philadelphia Flyers, 86 pts, 74 GP.
- Washington Capitals, 85 pts, 75 GP.
- New Jersey Devils, 78 pts, 74 GP.
- New York Rangers, 71 pts, 75 GP.
*Currently in wild-card position.
Wild card
Top two teams make the playoffs:
- Boston Bruins, 94 pts, 75 GP.
- Columbus Blue Jackets, 88 pts, 75 GP.
- Ottawa Senators, 86 pts, 74 GP.
- Detroit Red Wings, 86 pts, 74 GP.
- Philadelphia Flyers, 86 pts, 74 GP.
- Washington Capitals, 85 pts, 75 GP.
According to PlayoffStatus, the Red Wings have a 36% chance to make the playoffs and a less-than-1% chance to finish with one of the top three seeds in the division. They also have a 3% chance to make the Stanley Cup Final and a 1% chance to win the Cup.
Red Wings next game
The Red Wings (39-27-8) visit the Flyers (37-25-12) on Thursday, April 2, at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia in what could be a critical matchup in the playoff race. The Wings are 10th in the East and the Flyers are 11th. The top eight make the playoffs.
Red Wings schedule
The Red Wings have nine games left in the regular season before the Stanley Cup playoffs begin. The NHL regular season ends Thursday, April 16, 2026. The playoffs are expected to begin Saturday, April 18.
- April 2: at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
- April 4: at N.Y. Rangers, 12:30 p.m.
- April 5: Minnesota, 1 p.m.
- April 7: Columbus, 7 p.m.
- April 9: Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
- April 11: New Jersey, 5 p.m.
- April 13: at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.
- April 15: at Florida, 7 p.m.
Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break? Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletter to get daily summaries of Detroit sports!
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.