Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Dylan Larkin and head coach Todd McLellan watched the Detroit Red Wings bow out as the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators locked up their playoff spots.
This wasn't just a loss. It was a door slamming shut while two rivals skated right through it.
Boston and Ottawa did their job. Detroit didn't.
The Red Wings drop out with 91 points in 80 games. Close enough to stay relevant, not sharp enough to finish the climb.
Ottawa and Boston both hit 96 points. That gap looks small on paper. On the ice, it decided everything.
McLellan trusted his group to the end. Same lines, same roles, even as the pressure kept building.
That faith didn't translate into results when the margin disappeared.
Detroit Red Wings eliminated as Bruins and Senators clinch playoff spots
Detroit fired 28 shots but spent too much time reacting instead of dictating. New Jersey stayed one step ahead most of the night.
They did find a way back to 3-3 in the third. For a moment, it felt like the season had one more twist.
It didn't last.
Jesper Bratt struck late and flipped control for good. Detroit's bench never fully recovered after that shift.
The power play had one look and came up empty. In a tight game, that miss sticks with you.
Faceoffs leaned Detroit's way at 58.5 percent, but clean wins didn't turn into sustained pressure or second chances.
Larkin kept driving shifts, pushing pace through the middle. The support around him faded in key sequences.
Defensively, the Red Wings lost their structure late. Gaps opened, and New Jersey attacked with speed through the neutral zone.
While that was unfolding, Ottawa and Boston were closing. That's the difference-finishing versus chasing.
Now Detroit heads into the offseason with tough questions. Not about effort, but about timing, adjustments, and whether this core needs a different look.
Because watching two Atlantic rivals clinch on the same night your season ends leaves a mark.
Also read on Puck Reporter :
Brady Tkachuk sparks Senators-Islanders rematch with another fight against Anders Lee
Brady Tkachuk sparks Senators-Islanders rematch with another fight against Anders Lee