SUNRISE, Fla. -- The Detroit Red Wings looked like a team readying for the playoffs.
The Wings played like they can in an entertaining, chippy Saturday night game at BB&T Center, rallying to earn a well-deserved 5-3 final over the Atlantic Division-leading Florida Panthers. The Wings started well, responded when they fell behind, and their power play clicked as if nothing has been the matter. Pavel Datsyuk had two goals, the second into an empty net with 37 seconds left in regulation.
The victory, along with Pittsburgh beating Philadelphia earlier in the day, gives the Wings a three-point lead on the Flyers, who are hottest on Detroit's tail for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.