Red Wings 4, Wild 2
Darren Helm and captain Nicklas Lidstrom scored first-period goals and the Detroit Red Wings went on to clinch their ninth Central Division title in 10 seasons on Sunday with a 4-2 victory over the visiting Minnesota Wild.
Tomas Holmstrom and Johan Franzen also tallied, Henrik Zetterberg and defenseman Brian Rafalski notched two assists apiece and Jimmy Howard made 27 saves for the Red Wings, who also moved past idle San Jose for second place in the Western Conference.
Brad Staubitz had a goal and an assist, Carson McMillan scored in his NHL debut and Jose Theodore stopped 30 shots for Minnesota, which has lost five of six on the road and 10 of 12 overall.
Helm opened the scoring 2:46 into the game and Lidstrom beat Theodore on a long slap shot with 20 seconds remaining in the first for a 2-0 bulge. Staubitz halved the deficit 4 1/2 minutes into the second, but Holmstrom converted a power-play opportunity with 7:22 left to restore Detroit's two-goal lead.
Franzen recorded his second goal in 24 games at 6:11 of the third to cap the scoring.