Detroit Red Wings contenders in the East?

The Detroit Red Wings are 3rd in the Atlantic division and likely could be facing the Tampa Bay Lighting, but can the Wings contend?

I’m of the belief whoever starts in net the Wings are in a better spot than most teams, Howard or Mrazek the Wings are in a position to succeed.

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POWER play:

The Detroit Red Wings are #1 in the power play, which is an outstanding start because last year the Wings ranked 18th on the Power Play which is a league average type Power Play.

Last year the LA Kings ranked 27th, but won the Stanley Cup. The Power Play picked up in the playoffs as they had the 6th best Power Play.

Last year in the playoffs the Wings ranked second to last, that’s not how you win in the Playoffs.

So far, Detroit’s a better team than last year.

Penalty Kill:

The Detroit Red Wings penalty kill ranks 15th in the NHL, which is average up until there recent struggles the Wings ranked inside the top 10 since the beginning of March they fell rapidly from elite to average.

Last year the Kings fell from 8th to 15th in a week, ironically they ended up just above the Wings at 11th in the 2013-14 season.

In last years playoffs the Kings ranked 10th in the playoffs on the penalty kill once again the Wings special teams unit was one of the worst in the 2014-15 playoffs.

At a quick glimpse it’s easy to say the Wings penalty kill should get better, but after last year the Wings just need to improve on the penalty kill going into the playoffs.

Can the Wings score?

Last year, the Wings ranked 16th in goals for per game the Wings were average last year and there’s nothing else basically to say. The Wings couldn’t score when it mattered most in the 3rd ranking dead last in that category.

This year, Red Wings rank 12th in NHL

Interesting to note last year the LA Kings ranked near the bottom in the NHL, but basically were one of the best defensive units in the NHL.

However the Kings ranked #1 in goals scored in the 3rd, where does Detroit rank? 4th and that’s a key stat 8 of the last 10 teams that won the Cup ranked top five in goals scored in the third.

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Houston “We have a goalie problem?”

Last year, Detroit was an horrible defensive unit this year the Wings are ranked the same exact ranking as last year 16th in Goals Against.

The who should start goalie debate is pointless, while Mrazek is the “Young, up and comer” he’s been worse than the crucified Jimmy Howard.

Petr Mrazek:

Goals Against Average: 2.50

Save Percentage: .914

Shots Against: 593

Goals Against: 51

Record: 14-6-2

Jimmy Howard:

Goals Against Average: 2.34

Save Percentage: .915

Shots Against: 1,220

Goals Against: 104

Record: 21-12-11

The goalie banter is pointless among the Wings recent struggles it hasn’t been the goalie in most cases it’s been the entire team, Mrazek is a stud and is the Wings goalie of the future, but come playoff time you need experience in net.

Signature Stats:

Winning Pct – outshooting 11th

Winning Pct – when being outshot: 16th

Shots Against Per game: 7th

Shots per game: 18th

When scoring first: 21st

When trailing after first: 2nd

Leading after first: 2nd

Leading after two: 2nd

Point Percentage: 9th

X-Factors

Jimmy Howard – Is there any doubt, Howard is the key to Wings success earlier in the year before his injury he was the Wings best player. Howard the past two games as played his best two games stretch since coming back.

There’s no doubt Howard is the biggest key to the Wings success.

Gustav Nyquist – Nyquist is a player the Wings will need to be at his best he’s been cold as of late, but he’s bound to catch fire.

Justin Abdelkader – A week ago, Darren McCarty described himself as a guy like Abdelkader. Abdelkader is a pest and makes his teammates better and is 4th on the team in goals. Abdelkader needs to be McCarty, not the fighter but looking on past Wings team they always had that gritty grinder who made plays when he needed too.

Conclusion:

The Wings are contenders, it’s not far fetched their special teams are key to the Wings success in the playoffs. Of course the Wings need to keep teams from scoring, but what worries me at this point is scoring goals when the Wings struggled throughout the season they couldn’t score.

Detroit could be a Cup winning team, they could be a first round exit and in this “Transition year” Ken Holland has made the moves to make the Wings a Stanley Cup contender. Detroit isn’t physical, but Detroit has a lot of speed.

Keith Jones on NBC Sports Network said this about Detroit

"Anyone who thinks the Rangers are head and heals above the East, need to reconsider the Wings, Montreal, Tampa and Pens will match the Rangers on every level each team has speed, Specifically Detroit when I talked to people in the West they said “It’s a good thing Detroit’s in the East”"

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