How the Detroit Red Wings compare through 30 games played compared to last year
While the Detroit Red Wings were expected to take a big leap forward this year, they've actually regressed considerably and their postseason drought would extend into a 9th year if it began today.
The Red Wings came within literally a single point of making the postseason for the first time since 2016 last year, but missed out thanks to a heartbreaking tiebreaker with the Washington Capitals.
Through 30 games, the Red Wings are 12-14-4 with 28 points; last year, they were 15-11-4 for 34 points, representing a drop-off of six points.
Several players on the roster have regressed, the penalty-killing has been historically bad, and like last year, the Red Wings have routinely been outplayed and outshot - even against lesser teams like the Ducks and Sharks.
Through 30 games last year compared to this year, the Red Wings goals for has decreased, their goals against has increased, and their penalty killing has dropped considerably.
Additionally, Patrick Kane had gone a career-worst 9 games without picking up a point before his assist on Saturday, while J.T. Compher hasn't scored a goal since October 27.
One positive is Detroit's power play efficiency has improved compared to last year through 30 games.
The Red Wings missed the postseason by a single point
Red Wings fans will still cringe when they remember the emotional outburst of joy when now-former forward David Perron scored with just moments left in regulation in game No. 82 against the Canadiens.
But that feeling was crushed just seconds later in real time when the Philadelphia Flyers pulled their goaltender in an effort to secure a regulation victory against Washington, only to have it backfire with T.J. Oshie's goal.
The Capitals earned the second and final Wild Card postseason spot, while the Red Wings and Flyers were officially done for the year.
The Capitals were promptly dispatched by the President's Trophy-winning New York Rangers, who may had done the same to the Red Wings had they qualified.
But there are those who would argue that a first round postseason series, however brief, would have given players like Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, and Dylan Larkin (who is in his 10th year but has played in only 5 postseason games) valuable experience.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 16 | 76 ANSWERS How the Detroit Red Wings compare through 30 games played compared to last year What is currently the most worrying Detroit Red Wings stat compared to this point last year? | ||
| Historically-bad penalty killing | 48 | 63.2 % |
| Regressions of Patrick Kane and J.T. Compher | 28 | 36.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
