Wings 5, Preds 2

Detroit got one of, if not the, most important win of the season so far, edging two points closer to the 7th-placed Nashville Predators, who now have a 3-point lead over Detroit with equal games played.

The Red Wings had a great start to the game, something lacking for most of the season, taking a 2-0 advantage into the locker-room after 1, and doubling it by the mid-point of the game on the back of a short-handed goal from Darren Helm, his second of the game.

Less than two minutes later, Nashville managed to beat Jimmy Howard to get on the board, after very little offense from Trotz's chargers prior to that.

A nervousness fell over the Red Wing-faithful at the Joe, as Nashville edged within 2 after Joel Ward put a well-placed one-timer by Howard. Detroit's general inconsistency and inability to hold onto good leads this season, began to creep into the forefront of everyone's mind at that point, but once again, Detroit steadied the ship and kept the Preds off the board from that point on, with some good goaltending and strong penalty killing.

Scorers for Detroit were Pavel Datsyuk, Tomas Holmstrom and Henrik Zetterberg with the empty-netter while Nashville got goals from J.P. Dumont and Joel Ward.

Jimmy Howard had to make 20 saves for the win including a few stymied breakaway bids from Nashville.

Detroit will now need to be prepared for a rare afternoon game against divison-rival, Chicago, at the United Center on Sunday.