Red Wings coach: We'll make playoffs because of Zetterberg

Jeff Blashill is keeping the faith.

The Detroit Red Wings bench boss is confident his club is playoff-bound, pointing to its captain as a means for his optimism.

"I believe we will make the playoffs because of Henrik Zetterberg," Blashill told Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.

Zetterberg leads the Red Wings with 48 points in 61 games, but the team as a whole hasn't been nearly as successful.

Detroit sits last place in the Eastern Conference, holding down 60 points through 61 games, and sitting 10 points back of a playoff position.

Should the Red Wings miss the postseason, it will be the first time since 1990.

Only the Chicago Blackhawks (1970-97) and Boston Bruins (1968-96) have longer playoff streaks in NHL history, standing at 28 and 29 straight, respectively.