Red Wings' Playoff Chances Plummet After Loss to Canadiens

The Detroit Red Wings faced a significant setback in their playoff aspirations with a 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, effectively diminishing their chances of making the postseason. Captain Dylan Larkin scored the only goal for Detroit, but the team's struggles were evident as they outshot the Canadiens 36-21 yet failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities. A critical moment came when rookie defenseman Albert Johansson lost his helmet, allowing Josh Anderson to score the game-winner for Montreal. With only five games left in the season, the Red Wings find themselves eight points behind the Canadiens for the final wild card spot, needing an improbable series of wins combined with losses from Montreal to maintain any hope. Despite a coaching change midseason and a brief resurgence, the Red Wings' lack of consistent scoring has proven detrimental. The team is now left reflecting on another missed opportunity for postseason play.