from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill didn't go all Jim Mora on Tuesday with a high-pitched, incredulous rant of "Playoffs, playoffs?"

Instead, he pulled out examples from the past where seemingly down-and-out teams have gone on remarkable second-half runs to reach the postseason....

The Red Wings (19-21-8) haven't won more than four in a row this season. What makes them think they're capable of such a run?

"You're right, the past hasn't predicted a run. That's why all of you and pretty much everyone in the hockey world would bet against us right now," Blashill said. "Where do you get confidence from that? One would be history. I don't know where Ottawa's run came from that year? All the sudden, they're as hot as can be. I don't know where Philly's run came from a couple years ago, but all the sudden they got hot and couldn't lose.

"I know we have the players to do it. I think we play good hockey almost every night. We just need to get that little fraction better on a night by night basis, gain that confidence and go. I understand why people wouldn't believe me. I have no problem with that. I don't care what anybody else thinks. I care what the group in this room thinks. In the end, it doesn't matter what any of us thinks. It matters what we do."

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