The Detroit Red Wings have followed an epic 25-season playoff streak with an extended postseason drought.
Lucas Raymond and the Red Wings have been officially eliminated from the playoffs. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)AP
They were officially eliminated from playoff contention Saturday when the Montreal Canadiens gained a point in their 1-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
It marks the ninth consecutive year Detroit has missed the playoffs, adding to a franchise record.
The dry spell coincides with the opening of Little Caesars Arena in 2017. The building has yet to host a Stanley Cup playoff game.
If not for the Buffalo Sabres’ current drought – it reached 14 years this season – the Red Wings would own the longest active streak without a postseason appearance (they haven’t qualified since 2016, when they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round).
Detroit’s drought is tied for the fourth-longest in league history:
- Buffalo (14 seasons) 2011-12 to present
- Florida (10 seasons) 2000-01 to 2010-11
- Edmonton (10 seasons) 2006-07 to 2015-16
- Colorado Rockies/New Jersey (nine seasons) 1978-79 to 1986-87
- Detroit (nine seasons) 2016-17 to present
The Red Wings’ 25-season playoff streak from 1990-91 to 2015-16 tied for the third-longest in league history.
The Red Wings (37-35-7, 81 points) have three games remaining starting with Monday’s home finale against Dallas (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network, NHL Network).
