A lot of folks are still using conference standings as a way to gauge performance, unfortunately with the redesign of the divisions and playoff wild card criteria conference standings are now completely meaningless. Remember it is first 3 teams per division that make it plus 2 wild cards.
Although the Wings are 5th in the conference, we are actually in 7th place because of the wild card. The Rangers are 5 points behind us with a game in hand... The only website that is doing a real good job of showing the wild card standings is NHL.com, : http://www.nhl.com/ice/standings.htm?season=20132014&type=WC
Just wanted to bring this to everyones attention if you were not already aware of this.