Lessons for the Red Wings from the Qualifying Round

Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty ImagesAfter an exciting return to play Stanley Cup Qualifiers round in the NHL this past week featuring games all day every day, Monday brought a sudden empty schedule as the dust settled. For eight teams it was a day of packing up to leave the playoff bubble after what probably seemed like the blink of an eye. For their respective fan bases it gave a bit of time to reflect on the sudden onslaught of do or die hockey followed now by a not yet fully determined off-season.

But what did it mean for the Red Wings and their fans? Despite not being a part of the brief play-in tournament, many Red Wings fans were glued to their screens soaking in as many of the games as…