The Detroit Red Wings may have won their final game of the season against the Montreal Canadiens, but it wasn’t enough to secure a spot in the playoffs.
Despite a thrilling 5-4 shootout victory, the Red Wings finished the season with a record of 19-27-10, placing them at the bottom of the Central Division.
The game started off strong for the Red Wings, with forward Robby Fabbri scoring two goals in the first period. However, the Canadiens quickly responded with two goals of their own, tying the game at 2-2.
The second period saw both teams trading goals, with the Red Wings taking the lead twice, only to have the Canadiens tie it up each time. The score remained tied at 4-4 until the end of regulation, sending the game into overtime.
Despite several close calls, neither team was able to score in overtime, leading to a shootout. Red Wings goaltender Thomas Greiss made two crucial saves, while forward Jakub Vrana scored the game-winning goal, securing the victory for Detroit.
While the Red Wings may have missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year, there were some bright spots in their season. Fabbri finished the season with a career-high 10 goals, and rookie forward Lucas Raymond showed promise with 18 points in 28 games.
Head coach Jeff Blashill acknowledged the team’s struggles this season, but also expressed optimism for the future. “We have a lot of young talent on this team and I believe we are heading in the right direction,” he said in a post-game interview.
As for the Canadiens, they have secured a spot in the playoffs and will face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round. Despite the loss, they finished the season with a record of 24-21-11, placing them fourth in the North Division.
In the end, while the Red Wings may have missed the playoffs, their final game against the Canadiens showed that they have the potential to bounce back next season. Fans can only hope that the team will continue to improve and make a strong comeback in the 2021-2022 season.
