The Red Wings celebrate a goal against the Predators. (Frederick Breedon/Getty Images).
The Detroit Red Wings are in the playoffs for the 21st consecutive season, but this appearance will be a little different.
With the 3-2 shootout loss against Chicago Saturday, the Red Wings will be the road team in their first round series, which is unusual for a franchise that has won 16 division titles since 1987-88.
Detroit begins its playoff run at 8 p.m. Wednesday against the Nashville Predators, a division rival it faced six times throughout the season, splitting the series at three apiece.
The Predators tackled the trade deadline hard, going out and getting defenseman Hal Gill and forwards’ Paul Gaustad and Andrei Kostitsyn, not to mention the return of Alexander Radulov.
March 30 was the last meeting between the two teams, a game at Joe Louis Arena, and it wasn’t an impressive showing by the home team.
Radulov scored and Jimmy Howard was in net during the 4-1 loss.
Which brings up the topic of Howard.
He’s been battling injuries throughout the entire second half of the season, but if healthy, his play can make or break the Red Wings.
His importance is enhanced because the Detroit defense has been inconsistent throughout the season. At age 41, Nicklas Lidstrom has been arguably the best defenseman on the team.
Ian White, Brad Stuart and an emerging Jonathan Ericsson have been other productive defensive pieces, but Niklas Kronwall and every younger defenseman in the Detroit lineup has struggled.
Jakub Kindl had costly turnovers in a shootout win against St. Louis April 4. Him, Doug Janik, Brendan Smith, Kyle Quincey and Kronwall continued to struggle.
Those five are a plus-nine this season, while White and Lidstrom combine for a plus-43.
Improvement defensively is a need for a deep playoff run, otherwise, Howard has to be stellar.
At the other side of the rink, Predators goalie Pekka Rinne finished the regular season with a .923 save percentage and had an NHL-best 43 wins.
Rinne’s net minding and the special teams could doom the Red Wings. Detroit has struggled on special teams and the Predators have thrived.
The Red Wings bring in a 18th-ranked penalty kill to this series and Nashville presents the No.1 power play in the NHL.
Stay out of the box, get a road win early in the series and consistent defensive play will have the Red Wings onto round two.
If not, the Predators will be on to the second round in their ninth post season appearance in franchise history.
quimdigital.com 
Well done sir. I’m extremely excited for the playoffs to begin. And IF they’re still in it when school gets out I’m headin to the JOE asap. Anyway, agree that the D have struggled all season; however, i would take Smith or Quincey over Ericsson any day. I feel like every time I see a bad turnover or puckhandling it is Ericsson. He has gotten much better though. What Nashville has acquired from the trade deadline is what scares me, all offensive players. They’re power play too, omg how do you stop all of that offense with Shea Weber as an option to launch a 105 mph slapshot from the point. The wings can do it, but it’s gunna be tough
Posted by Stephan | April 10, 2012, 12:05 PMIf anyone was wondering about the face grab and slam-head-into-glass move pulled off by shea weber on Henrik Zetterberg was not dirty enough for a suspension. He only received a $2,500 fine for his malicious act
Posted by Stephan | April 12, 2012, 1:17 PM
Posted by Stephan | April 12, 2012, 1:21 PM