The Red Wings (24-21-5, 53 points) would tie Tampa Bay and Columbus for the final wild card spot with a win over the Oilers and a regulation loss by the Blue Jackets at Vegas, though technically Detroit would still trail based on points percentage and tiebreakers.

The first thing Todd McLellan felt needed changing when he took over the Wings was the mood. Thanks to an 11-4-1 record since arriving, it has.

In 16 games since McLellan took over, the Red Wings are 11-4-1, riding a three-game win streak as they prepare to head to western Canada on Wednesday. It’s not unusual to see a midseason coaching change bring better results in the NHL, but now more than 30 days in, the Red Wings’ surge has lasted longer than a simple adrenaline rush.

Veteran forward Andrew Copp said the Detroit Red Wings have a togetherness they lacked before head coach Todd McLellan was hired in late December.

The Detroit Red Wings have an easy scouting report to pull up next weekend ... in their first outing of the season against their divisional foe. Certainly coach Todd McLellan did not have much positive to say after watching his Wings drop a 5-1 decision ...

Once a coach, always a coach. So when Steve Yzerman called former Detroit assistant coach Todd McLellan a month ago, looking to make a head coaching change behind the Wings bench, replacing Derek Lalonde,

McLellan and his right-hand man, former Kings and Ducks assistant Trent Yawney, have put their imprint on the winged wheel in short order. “Our structure in all three zones (has improved), I feel like we’re just supporting the puck better,” Talbot told The Detroit News.

The Red Wings showed they're learning how to win after falling behind against a great defensive team like the Kings and scoring five straight goals.

The Detroit Red Wings believe in themselves again, says new head coach Todd McLellan. That has made all the difference in the world.

Detroit Red Wings react after 2-1 (OT) loss at Philadelphia Flyers

The Detroit Red Wings return home both a bit deflated and encouraged. They take a three-game winless streak against Atlantic Division rival Montreal Canadiens on Thursday after a day off that will allow them to decompress from playing four games on a six-day trip.

The Detroit Red Wings take on Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers in the opening matchup of their four-game road trip.