Detroit Red Wings blew three leads in a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils, extending the NHL's longest current playoff drought to a decade. Coach Todd McLellan called it a microcosm of their disappointing season. Captain Dylan Larkin accepted responsibility for the fourth goal while frustrated fans booed the team's performance.

Detroit held a playoff position for 148 days this season, the longest stretch since their 25 consecutive playoff appearances ended in 2016. They became just the second team in NHL history to record at least 69 points in their first 53 games and still miss the playoffs. The team led the Atlantic Division as recently as late January before a late-season collapse.

General manager Steve Yzerman faces increasing pressure as his seven-year rebuilding plan continues without postseason results. "We got to look ourselves in the mirror and we got to be better than this," winger Lucas Raymond said. Detroit's inability to close out games down the stretch has raised serious questions about the team's direction and competitiveness.