Detroit Red Wings playoff odds: Hockeytown's postseason chances after 4-1 loss to Canadiens

Modified Apr 09, 2025 08:50 GMT

NHL: Detroit Red Wings at Montreal Canadiens - Source: Imagn — Detroit Red Wings playoff odds - Source: Imagn

The Detroit Red Wings' playoff hopes suffered a crushing setback on Tuesday after losing 4-1 to the Montreal Canadiens at Centre Bell Arena.

A win would have boosted the Red Wings' chances of making the playoffs to 12.5%. However, they now face a mere 0.5% chance of qualifying for the postseason.

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The Detroit Red Wings sit fourth in the Eastern Conference Wild Card standings, trailing the Montreal Canadiens by eight points for the second spot. Meanwhile, the NY Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets are also tied at 79 points in the chase.

"You couldn't draw it up worse than that for us," coach Todd McLellan told FDSN after the game about the deciding play.

"The power play was really ineffective," McLellan said. "Nothing going on there and we rely on it a lot."

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The Red Wings have not reached the playoffs since 2016, and with only five games remaining, it seems increasingly likely that Hockeytown will endure yet another year without postseason action.

The Detroit Red Wings will be up against the Florida Panthers next at Amerant Bank Arena on Thursday. The puck drops at 7:00 p.m. ET.

How Montreal Canadiens downed Detroit Red Wings

On Tuesday, the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-1 at Centre Bell Arena, securing their sixth straight win.

Dylan Larkin opened the scoring for the Red Wings after putting them ahead 1-0 at 9:54 into the first period. He was the lone scorer for the club in the game.

Coming into the second period, Cole Caufield tied it 1-1 for the Canadiens at 16:29 into the period. The Canadiens scored only one goal in that period. Josh Anderson extended the Habs' lead to 2-1 after scoring at 10:48 into the third period.

Brendan Gallagher increased the Canadiens' lead to 3-1 after scoring an empty net goal at 18:54. With less than a minute remaining in the regulation time, Nick Suzuki scored on the empty net to clinch the victory for the Canadiens.

Anderson, Gallagher, and Suzuki all notched two points in the matchup. Goaltender Sam Montembeault made 35 saves and posted a .972 save percentage on the night.

The Montreal Canadiens travel to Canadian Tire Centre to face the Ottawa Senators next on Friday. The puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET.

About the author

Abhishek is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda with over 2 years of sports reporting experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi. He became a fan of ice hockey after watching NHL fight videos on YouTube, which led to him professionally writing about the sport and his continued interest in all things hockey.

A fan of the Boston Bruins, Abhishek considers their incredible comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 playoffs as the most iconic moment in the NHL. His admiration for the six-time Stanley Cup winners also comes from the team’s storied history, distinctive black and gold uniform and their success in the sport. His all-time favorite NHL players are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, for their ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Abhishek ensures his reporting is fair and balanced by being well-researched in his details, which he expects to be relevant, up-to-date and in line with ethical standards. His specialties are doing detailed match analysis and covering fan reactions.

Abhishek enjoys music, traveling and going on walks with his three German Shepherds in his free time, along with learning about horticulture.

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Edited by Abhishek Dilta