NHL Power Rankings: Eastern Conference Taking Control

No. 27: Detroit Red Wings
Previous: 14th
Season record: 8-10-1 (17 points)
Something has gone horribly wrong in the Motor City. You could look to goaltender Petr Mrazek, who was supposed to run the show but has instead posted a .901/3.16 slashline.
However, Jimmy Howard is showing a stellar .940/1.85 slashline and has just about the same exact record in net as Mrazek: 4-5-0 versus 4-5-1. What’s going on here?
We have to look, again, at youngsters underperforming. Detroit has a reliable veteran in Henrik Zetterberg, who is leading the team with 12 points. But the Wings were going to need much more production from their youth to succeed.
To that end, Gustav Nyquist also has 12 points. And then … Tomas Tatar carries seven points. Dylan Larkin and Luke Glendening have six apiece. Andreas Athanasiou has five. Not helping is the lack of health from guys like Thomas Vanek and Niklas Kronwall. Is the playoff streak nearing its conclusion?