The Detroit Red Wings are moving closer to a 10th consecutive season without a playoff game.
Following a damaging loss on Saturday, the desperate Red Wings will host the Minnesota Wild on Sunday afternoon.
Facing a team out of the playoff picture, the Red Wings were nearly blanked by the New York Rangers, 4-1. Gabe Perreault collected his first NHL hat trick for the Rangers while the Red Wings couldn’t get a puck past Jonathan Quick until the final minute.
David Perron prevented the shutout with his first goal since he was acquired from the Ottawa Senators at the trade deadline. The Red Wings (40-28-8, 88 points) have lost three of their past four games and eight of their last 12 while going 4-7-1 in that span.
“We have to forget about this one quick and get ready for Minnesota,” Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said. “That’s the focus for me right now and for our group. We talked about it after (the game), we have to move on and go get points against Minnesota.”
Forward Lucas Raymond had a similar viewpoint as the Red Wings begin a four-game homestand.
“We would have loved to be in a playoff spot but that isn’t the case,” Raymond said. “At the same time, we’re tied in points with the team that is (in the spot) so we have a good opportunity here. We have games left to really do something special with this team.
“We have a lot of faith in ourselves and our team. It’s just about going out there and getting it done.”
Detroit reside in a four-way tie in points for the second wild card in the East with the Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers.
The Wild (43-21-12, 98 points) already have secured a playoff berth. They did the Red Wings a favor on Saturday by defeating the Senators 4-1.
Ryan Hartman continued to pump up his stat line, scoring two goals for the second consecutive game. Hartman will carry a four-game goal streak into Sunday’s contest.
“We talked a lot about getting ourselves ready, trying to build our team and build our style of game and feel good going into playoffs,” Hartman said. “If we’re up goals, if we’re down a couple, we want to use those as learning spots for us.”
Jesper Wallstedt made 33 saves for the Wild. Filip Gustavsson likely will get the nod in goal for Minnesota on Sunday.
“Every game is obviously a different game,” Hartman said. “Sometimes you feel great; sometimes there’s other things you need to do because you’re not feeling 100%. But we feel good right now and we’re building our game.”
Gustavsson was the winning goalie in the first meeting between the Wild and Red Wings this season. He made 31 saves in a 4-3 overtime victory in St. Paul, Minn., on Jan. 22.
Kirill Kaprizov scored his second goal of the game 45 seconds into the overtime. Mats Zuccarello scored the other goals for Minnesota. Raymond led Detroit’s offense with two goals.
