Detroit Red Wings: Beware of the Edmonton Spoilers!

What a weird, wild season this has been for the Detroit Red Wings.

While a small stutter-step was expected of the Red Wings at the beginning of the season, who among us believed that at game 70 of the season, the Wings would still be fighting for a playoff spot?

Additionally, who would have dreamed that a game against the Edmonton Oilers, the NHL's worst team, would be considered a must-win?

As unimaginable as this scenario might have been at the season's start, that is exactly what the Red Wings are facing tonight at Rexall Place.

On the face of it, Edmonton doesn't have a prayer against the Wings.

Detroit has been playing their best hockey of the season over the past 10 games and with a healthy and determined roster, even the best teams in the league should be weary of the Red Wings.

Still, time after time this season, the Red Wings have turned sure-fire wins into bitterly disappointing losses due to lack of emotion, slow starts and mental lapses.

These have't been as prevalent lately, but consider this: the Wings have yet to win four games in a row this season due, in large part, to the aforementioned flaws in their game.

Tonight is a chance, not only to extend their current win streak, but to gain yet another three-point lead over ninth place Calgary.

Well, as long as Calgary finds a way to lose against a suddenly floundering San Jose Sharks team.

Should the Flames win, the best Detroit can hope for at the end of the night is no change in their current position.

However, a Calgary win and a Detroit loss would mean another swap of playoff seeding between the two teams.

Having said all of this, it should be noted that Edmonton is well aware of the scenario facing the Wings tonight.

Edmonton has nothing left to play for in terms of playoff position, but robbing two points from Detroit is motivation in and of itself.

Think about it.

If Detroit ends up missing the playoffs by one or two points, how proud would Edmonton be of a win tonight?

Yes, Detroit has every reason to play their hearts out and utterly bury a weak and vulnerable Oilers team, but they've been in this position before (most recently, two weeks ago at home against Calgary) and failed to capitalize.

Considering their extended three-day break, it is not beyond the realm of possibilities that the Wings will come out sluggish and disinterested.

If they do, the game and their entire season may very well be in jeopardy.

However, if they play a full 60 minutes, two points are all but guaranteed.

I'm not sure when last it was that the Red Wings faced a must-win situation against a last place team, perhaps not ever.

But, thinking of tonight's game as anything but could very well doom their season.