Brad Rempel, USA TODAY Sports
The last time the Detroit Red Wings didn’t make the playoffs was in 1990, and their leading scorer Gustav Nyqvist was in diapers. Gas cost $1.16 per gallon and the film Driving Miss Daisy beat Field of Dreams, among others, to win the Academy Award for best picture.
The Red Wings can earn their NHL-leading 23rd consecutive playoff appearance tonight if they can pick up one point in their road game against the Pittsburgh Penguins (8 p.m., ET, NBC Sports Network). Backup Jonas Gustavsson will be in net.
Coach Mike Babcock should receive Jack Adams Coach of the Year consideration for the work he has done to keep this team in contention after the team was overrun by injuries.
Still playing without captain Henrik Zetterberg and top pairing defenseman Jonathan Ericsson, among others, the Red Wings have gone 6-3-1 in the past 10 games to get themselves in position to grab one of the Eastern Conference wild-card spots.
Gary Wiepert, AP
The Red Wings have been fully invested in younger players, including Nyqvist, plus the line of Tomas Tatar, Riley Sheahan and Tomas Jurco. Their speed and energy have made a difference.
After struggling to score goals earlier in the season, the Red Wings have scored three or more in 11 of their past 12 games.
Detroit’s inconsistent defensive play leaves it an underdog for the postseason, but it does seem like the kind of momentum team that can post an upset in the first round. The Red Wings did that last year against the Anaheim Ducks.
Who else can clinch
Anaheim Ducks: Can clinch the Pacific Division title if they defeat the Sharks tonight (10:30 p.m., ET, NBC Sports Network) in regulation, overtime or a shootout. That would mean the Sharks would face the Los Angeles Kings in their first-round playoff matchup. The Sharks would have home-ice advantage.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Can clinch the franchise’s second playoff berth if they defeat the Stars in any fashion.
Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadians: They are guaranteed to meet in the first round of the playoffs if the Red Wings lose to the Penguins.
Your games tonight
Montreal at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.
Detroit at Pittsburgh, 8:00 p.m., NBC Sports Network
Columbus at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Los Angeles at Calgary, 10:00 p.m.
San Jose at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m., NBC Sports Network
Follow the rest of USA TODAY Sports’ in-depth NHL coverage at nhl.usatoday.com.
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