Red Wings routed by Rangers as playoff chase hits another pothole

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News on Apr 4, 2026

Published in Hockey

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If the Detroit Red Wings ultimately don't make the playoffs in less than two weeks now, put an asterisk next to Saturday's game against the New York Rangers.

Playing against the last-place team in the Eastern Conference, the Wings never threatened while losing 4-1 to the Rangers.

Rookies Gabe Perreault (three goals, one a power play and one empty net) and Jaroslav Chmelar scored Rangers goals while goaltender Jonathan Quick, in possibly his final home game at Madison Square Garden, stopped 31 shots for his 410th career victory.

David Perron scored the lone Wings' goal, his first since rejoining the Wings at the trade deadline, with 33 seconds left in the game.

Perreault's second goal, his ninth, made it 3-0 in the third period. Perreault tipped in a pass from Johnny Brodzinski off a rush and put the Wings in an inescapable hole.

Perreault gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead in the second period. After an ineffective Wings' power play, Perreault took in the pass from Mika Zibanejad and beat goaltender John Gibson (17 saves) in the slot at 15:59.

Chmelar opened the scoring getting his stick on a shot from Vladislav Gavrikov, Chmelar's fourth goal, at 13:19 of the first period.

The Wings were 0 for 4 on the power play, struggling to generate any sustained offense.

The Wings have 88 points. Entering play Saturday they were tied with Ottawa, Columbus and Philadelphia for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Wings welcomed forward Michael Rasmussen back to the lineup, after having been out since March 12 with an undisclosed injury. Rasmussen replaced Mason Appleton in the lineup.

Defenseman Justin Faulk (undisclosed) was held out after suffering an injury Thursday against Philadelphia. Faulk appears to be day-to-day in returning to the lineup. The Wings recalled Axel Sandin-Pellikka from Grand Rapids to replace Faulk.

Wild at Red Wings

— Faceoff: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit

— Notable: The Wings return home to face Minnesota and open a four-game homestand. ... The Wild were 4-5-1 in their last 10 games entering Saturday's game in Ottawa. ... Minnesota defeated the Wings 4-3 (OT) in the only other game between the teams this season. ... D Quinn Hughes (67 assists, 73 points) has turned the Wild into Stanley Cup contenders.

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