Red Wings Seek April Turnaround After Disappointing March

Detroit looks to bounce back and keep playoff hopes alive with 8 games left in the season.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 9:08am

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The Detroit Red Wings have struggled through a difficult March, going 5-7-2 and falling out of a playoff position. With only 8 games remaining in the regular season, the team is looking to regain the resilience that marked their strong start and find a way to climb back into the playoff picture.

Why it matters

The Red Wings' March struggles have put their playoff hopes in jeopardy, as they now sit two points out of a wild card spot with limited games left. The team is searching for answers to turn things around and prove they can elevate their play at a critical time of the season.

The details

The Red Wings have lost four of their last five games, including a 5-1 defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. Coach Todd McLellan acknowledged the team's lack of "will and drive" and said the coaching staff needs to do a better job of preparing the players. Captain Dylan Larkin pointed to the team's inability to win battles and make plays, saying they are "dipping their toe in a little bit too much" instead of fully committing.

  • The Red Wings' next game is Thursday, April 2 against the Philadelphia Flyers.
  • Detroit has 8 games remaining in the regular season.

The players

Todd McLellan

Head coach of the Detroit Red Wings.

Dylan Larkin

Captain of the Detroit Red Wings.

Andrew Copp

Forward for the Detroit Red Wings.

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What they’re saying

“The will and the drive is something that we could use a little bit more of right now. We're going to ask them for it.”

— Todd McLellan, Head coach

“I really don't have words for the start. I think when you come to the rink, you put your equipment on and it's hockey. No matter what time of the year, it gets elevated this time of year but you have to make plays, you have to want the puck on your stick, the battles become even more important and I think we're just dipping our toe in a little bit too much.”

— Dylan Larkin, Captain

“We're absolutely not out of it. And we got a huge game Thursday. So we can't linger and say, woe us, March, blah, blah, blah, blah. We've got a game Thursday night that's going to be a huge game and we're doing nothing but preparing for that.”

— Andrew Copp, Forward

What’s next

The Red Wings will face the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, April 2, in a crucial game as they look to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The takeaway

The Red Wings' struggles in March have put their playoff positioning in jeopardy, but the team remains determined to turn things around in the final stretch of the season. With only 8 games left, the Red Wings must find a way to regain their early-season form and intensity to climb back into a playoff spot.