Red Wings' Playoff Hopes Hinge on Key Players

0:00This is Corey with NHL News Today, powered by the Daily News Now. Subscribe for daily updates on your team. The Detroit Red Wings are pushing to snap their nine-season Stanley Cup playoff drought, the longest in team history. They've stayed competitive in the Atlantic Division all year, holding a solid spot above the playoff cutoff. But history shows trouble ahead. In the last two seasons, they started March in a playoff position, but faded below the line by months end. They entered the Olympic break on a weeknote, and have looked uneven in the game since returning. Fans have mixed hopes, knowing these late slums have hurt before. The real key now is a handful of players stepping up big in this tight stretch, especially as games turn more physical. Captain Dylan Larkin needs to build on his Olympic momentum with stronger even strength play after a mid-season dip. Young center-Marco Casper is already heating up, scoring more lately, which could fill a big gap like a trade deadline boost. Veteran Patrick Cain must rebound from a slow patch to spark the power play, while

1:02defensemen Simon Evanson shakes off knee surgery effects to lead. The blue line. If these guys deliver, Detroit's first playoffs in nearly a decade look very possible. D&N is sponsored by our partner. Check out the episode description. Headphones in a pillow, simple idea, surprisingly addictive. S-O-L-I-SOL PILO dot com.