For Detroit Red Wings fans, this post season will be an odd, unusual feeling. For the time in 25 years, the Wings will not be a member of the post season contingent of NHL teams.
A difficult season chase came to an end Tuesday night with a 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
“It’s a great streak,” Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg said. “The guys who have been part of it should be proud of it. Unfortunately it’s over. We’ve just got to move on and look to the future.”
On the other side of the ice, the Canes are making every effort to punch their own ticket to the playoffs.
The win helped Carolina keep pace with their chief rival at this point, the Boston Bruins, who won over the Nashville Predators Tuesday.
Detroit was playing their third game in three nights after a postponed game was made in Carolina.
“They’re human. There’s obviously going to be fatigue,” Jimmy Howard said. “When all’s said and done, I’ve got to be better for the guys.”
Cam Ward made 21 saves in picking up the win for the Canes as they improved to 34-27-14.
Carolina trails Boston by four points.
Lee Stempniak, Joakim Nordstrom and Jordan Staal helped Carolina build a 3-0 lead against the tiered legs of the Wings.
Tomas Nosek broke the string of Canes’ goals when he scored to make it 3-1.
Elias Lindholm closed out the scoring for Carolina’s win.
WATCH: All Red Wings vs. Hurricanes highlights
Jimmy Howard made 28 saves in taking the loss for the Wings.
“We’ve all known we’re in a tough spot here. Our focus is 100 percent on making sure that this is a one-time deal, not an eight-, nine-, 10-time deal,” Detroit head coach Jeff Blashill said.” You do that by making sure you maintain the culture that has allowed that streak to continue for a long time: work ethic, attention to detail, selflessness, competitiveness. We have to make sure that’s there every single night. You can’t let it slip whatsoever. Once you let it slip, it’s hard to get it back.”
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