DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings hope April isn’t as cruel a month as was March. A surprising team with eyes on the Atlantic Division title turned into a weary-looking group with unsettled goaltending and injury concerns after going 5-8-2 last month. The Red Wings have six games to right the ship before the playoffs, starting Thursday against the Boston Bruins at Joe Louis Arena (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).
Boston, which trailed Detroit by 12 points on March 4, suddenly is two points behind. And while the Red Wings need only stay ahead of the Ottawa Senators, who are five points back, to secure a playoff berth, finishing the season on an upswing and beating a nemesis team would provide a confidence boost. “It doesn’t matter how much we look back we have to look forward,” defenseman Niklas Kronwall said. “Try to get energized and get back to playing the way we want to be playing. March has been a bit of a struggle for us. We have to find our legs again. Focus on the things we need to do and do them right.”