(Photo: David Guralnick, Detroit News)
The Detroit Red Wings are tied for the second-fewest points in the NHL's Eastern Conference entering Thursday's games, and are all but a lock to miss their third straight postseason.
That's pretty much what's been expected, according to ESPN, which on Thursday handed Detroit a C grade in its NHL midseason report card.
Detroit is 19-25-7 for 45 points, tied with New Jersey, and just two better than Eastern Conference cellar-dwelling Ottawa, which plays host to the Red Wings on Saturday night. Only two teams — Ottawa and Los Angeles (44) — have fewer points than Detroit.