The Detroit Red Wings are one of the hottest teams in the NHL

Patrick Kane delivered the moment - so far - of the Detroit Red Wings season Sunday night setting the stage for more big moments to come.

On a night where Kane was honored by Chicago fans and a video tribute was played, playing his first game against his old squad in Chicago, Kane scored on a breakaway goal in overtime to hand the Red Wings a 3-2 win.

The goal shot the Wings to their fifth straight victory. They now have 70 points and have the lead on the top wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Detroit hasn’t made the playoffs since 2016.

Michigan sportsbooks aren’t handing the Red Wings the Stanley Cup. Yet. But the odds are improving. Detroit is +6000 to win the Cup at BetMGM. FanDuel has the Wings +7000, and now, more importantly, -290 to make the playoffs.

How Do Playoff Standings Look?

BetMGM Sportsbook also has a handy link to what the NHL playoffs would look like if the season ended today. It would be good news for Wings fans.

Remember, the NHL playoffs are seeded with the top three teams in each division getting in, followed by the two teams with the next best record as the two wild cards. With 70 points, Detroit is now the top wild card team, one point ahead of Tampa Bay.

The Devils (62 points) and Capitals (61) have each fallen off in the playoff chase.

Detroit would love to stay in that top wild card spot and avoid a potential match-up with the Bruins in the first round.

Red Wings Flying

The Wings are an offensive machine. They rank sixth in the NHL in goals per game at 3.5 and fourth in power play goals at 49. And yes, the Wings have been a good bet over/under this season. They are 32-25 over/under this season, which is the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.

Alex DeBrincat leads the Red Wings with 52 points and was the squad’s lone All-Star. Dylan Larkin has 51 points and has a team-high 25 goals.

It was big news when the Wings signed Kane to a one-year deal for $2.75 million and he already missed a few weeks with an injury. But he’s been worth the contract. Kane has 12 goals in 27 games and 16 assists. His plus/minus is -1.

The Time Is Now

Detroit fans are still rejoicing after what the Lions did in the NFL season, reaching the NFC Championship Game, but for years, the Red Wings were the favorite sons of the town. Detroit made the playoffs for a record 25 straight years (and won four Cups) from 1991-2016. But they haven’t made it since.

During this winning streak, Detroit has outscored its opponents 20-7. Wings top goalie Ville Husso is still out with an injury. He’s “week-to-week” in hockey language, but Alex Lyon has upped his save percentage to .916 as a back-up. Detroit only has four shutouts this season.

There are 24 games left in the Red Wings regular season. More special moments await.

By:Darren Cooper

Born and raised in Louisiana, Darren Cooper has a fond appreciation for bayous, Mardi Gras beads and the sports betting industry. Darren has worked for multiple print and online publications since 1998, primarily as a sports columnist in the Northeast. He’s covered a Super Bowl (it was a blowout), the World Series (same) and the NBA Draft (man, those guys are tall). For the last few years he’s dug deep into the sports gambling industry as it exploded across America, learning how the legal sausage is made and how while all the sportsbooks look the same, they all have different identities and styles. He’s learned to always bet within his means -- and take the under. When not in front of his computer creating, Darren spends time with his three boys. He runs, reads and is always looking for the next big thing to write about.