Major suspension likely incoming following brutal hit that injures Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond

The Detroit Red Wings have no choice but to win their remaining 4 games, which includes tonight's tough matchup against the divisional foe Tampa Bay Lightning, if they want to keep their already minuscule playoff hopes alive.

Oh, and they need the Montreal Canadiens to lose out - quite the tall order considering how they've been playing.

During tonight's game against the Lightning, Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond took a dirty hit to the head from Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak; Raymond was furious and was seen jawing at Cernak from the bench while receiving treatment from a team trainer.

The hit may have even knocked one of Raymond's lower teeth loose. Don't be surprised to see the NHL Department of Player Safety get in touch with Cernak at some point very shortly.

Unfortunately for the Red Wings, Raymond's dropoff in scoring in recent weeks could not have come at a more inopportune time.

Since the 4 Nations Faceoff in late February in which Raymond participated for Sweden, he has just 16 points (5G, 11A) in 23 games. He has 75 points (26G, 49A) in 78 games, which is a new career-best for him.

The Red Wings are hanging on literally by a thread for their postseason hopes; they have no choice but to win every remaining game while hoping that the Canadiens lose 4 straight in regulation.

While not mathematically or theoretically impossible, the chances of that taking place are remote, as evidenced by Detroit's 0.1% odds of returning to the postseason in 2025 for the 1st time since 2016.

It looks as though it will be another year in Detroit with no playoff hockey.