Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde isn't taking anything for granted heading into Thursday's crucial clash with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
"We may not be here next year," Lalonde said Wednesday, per NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika.
The Red Wings, who have been rebuilding for much of the past five-plus years, are in the thick of a race for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference as they look to snap a seven-year playoff drought.
"I don't foresee New Jersey not flirting with 100 points (next season)," Lalonde said. "You don't get these opportunities (all the time), and we're in one. So, we had an opportunity (Tuesday); we came up short. We have an opportunity (Thursday) against Pittsburgh; we would like to seize that opportunity."
Detroit enters Thursday with 84 points, one back of the Washington Capitals for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Pittsburgh also has 84 points. Both teams would hold tiebreakers over the Red Wings by virtue of regulation wins. Detroit's playoff odds thus sit at just 24.3%, per MoneyPuck.
The Red Wings have one of the NHL's best farm systems, and 22-year-old Lucas Raymond and 23-year-old Moritz Seider are among the team's best players. However, Detroit also has several aging veterans who could move on this summer as free agents, such as Patrick Kane, David Perron, and Shayne Gostisbehere.
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