What should really have the Wings kicking themselves is how poorly other bubble teams have played and how low of a points total might be enough to make it into the playoffs.
In the West, 8th place St. Louis has 83 points with 9 to play and the Wings would be 11 points out and probably just a few games away from being mathematically eliminated. Vancouver has 80 points with 10 to play and Calgary has 79 points with 12 to play. Could easily see Vancouver or Calgary hitting 94 points but still missing out.
Meanwhile in the East, 8th place Montreal only has 75 points with 12 to play, while the Islanders and Rangers both have 74 points with 11 and 10 games remaining respectively. Montreal even going 7-4-1 would as likely as not get in with 90 points. Last year the Wings' 91 points had them lose out on 91-point Washington on a tiebreaker. Wings, at 72 points with 11 to play, need to go 9-2 to hit 90 points and that's not going to happen the way they're playing and with 5 of their final 6 games being on the road. That said, home wins tonight against Ottawa and slumping Boston on Saturday would give the illusion of being "close".