Can the Detroit Red Wings Miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the First Time in Twenty Years?

In a game that was very important in the standings with the season winding down the Calgary Flames trailed the Detroit Redwings by a point before last nights game 3/9. The point difference between the two teams made for being an eight seed team and a ninth seeded team in the conference.

In front of 20,066 fans at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit the Redwings would take a 2-1 lead into third period. But Jerome Iginla who has been hot lately would knot the game a two at 5:45 of the third period. Rene Bourque would tally just 91 seconds later to give the Flames a 3-2 lead.

The third period was all Calgary Flames but the Red Wings would get a last chance to get the equalizer with their goalie pulled on the power play for a two man advantage got spoiled when ex-Rangers Christopher Higgins would put home and empty net goal and a 4-2 Flames win.

After going to the Stanley Cup finals the last two seasons, losing last years cup to the Penguins and winning the season before that to those same Penguins the Detroit Redwings playoffs chances for the 2009-2010 season is in jeopardy.

Now trailing the Calgary Flames by a point in the Western Conference Standings both teams have the same number of games played and sixteen games each remaining.

The Nashville Predators hold down the seventh seed with seventy seven points with the Flames holding down the eight seed with seventy five for the final playoff spot. The Red Wings have seventy four points in ninth place.

Can the Red Wings miss this years second season? The 2009-2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Well if they do it will be the first time this has happened since the 1989-90 season. Wow! 20 years ago, 20 straight years in a row of playoff hockey. What a run! Looking ahead the Red Wings have to play the Flames one more time and the Nashville Predators twice. Those will be very big games indeed. Losses in those game could me an early exit and something the fans of Hockey Town Motor City haven't seen in twenty years.

To see the video recap of this game:

http://www.puckvideo.com