This is as good a time as any to check out teams who may disrupt New York’s playoff chances.
The first on The Maven’s agenda is the Detroit Red Wings. A year ago the Motor City sextet came within a point of making their first appearance since 2015-16.
This time around, the Wings look like a better team but not that much better.
There’s one factor that realistically could help the New Yorkers and that’s the schedule. The Red Wings have the most difficult slate of games than any other playoff contending team. Consider the following:
The Detroiters have 27 games remaining and their foes have a collective .587 winning percentage.
Get a load of these tough opponents: Carolina, three times; Vegas, Minnesota and Florida twice and Dallas, Tampa Bay, Toronto and Boston once each.
If the Blueshirts plan to catch and pass the Wings they must heed coach Peter Laviolette’s simple, explicit advice.
“We have to win games!”
