Red Wings' December Surge Fuels Playoff Hopes

The Detroit Red Wings are enjoying their most successful December in a decade, having secured 13 points in the month, their highest total since 2015. This encouraging performance, marked by a 5-4 victory over the Boston Bruins and a recent shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, comes as the team approaches the one-year anniversary of Head Coach Todd McLellan's hiring on December 26th. McLellan's tenure has seen the team compile a 45-30-7 record, earning 97 points over 82 games.

This point total of 97 points in each of the last two seasons would have been sufficient to secure the second Wild Card playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. Despite a long playoff drought and never having hosted a postseason game at Little Caesars Arena since its opening in October 2017, the Red Wings' current standing in the Atlantic Division offers a hopeful outlook for fans.

The team's recent strong form, with only their second regulation loss in nearly three weeks, highlights a potential shift. Their position just one week before Christmas Day suggests a positive trajectory, offering a glimmer of hope for ending their postseason absence and making a competitive push.