SAN JOSE, California The Detroit Red Wings hope to start the New Year off right after a difficult end to 2023 when they play the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night to kick off their “Death Valley” tour through California.
As the year came to a finish, the Red Wings’ chances of making the playoffs drastically decreased. Detroit won just once in their last four games and lost seven of their last nine, including a
depressing defeat to the Boston Bruins on New Year’s Eve. The Wings have allowed four goals in six of their past seven games, which exacerbates their problems keeping the goalie healthy.
Detroit is 12 points behind the Boston Bruins in first place in the Atlantic Division heading into the new year. They trail the Tampa Bay Lightning by just three points, though, for the final Wild Card berth in the Eastern Conference.
The Sharks are not and will not be anywhere close to a postseason spot. San Jose won a couple of games, emphasised on the word “a few,” following an almost historically awful start. Since the Chicago Blackhawks are the team closest to the Sharks, they have the worst record in the league by three points and are the only team with fewer than ten wins as we approach 2024. They haven’t won since December 12 and are now riding an eight-game losing streak.
However, this season, the Sharks have the Wings beat. On December 7, San Jose returned to Motown and overcame a 4-0 Detroit lead to win 6-5 in overtime.
