Red Wings 7, Blue Jackets 2
RED WINGS 7, BLUE JACKETS 2: Tomas Holmstrom netted a pair of power-play tallies during a four-goal first period and Henrik Zetterberg and Todd Bertuzzi notched four assists apiece as host Detroit clinched a playoff berth for the 21st straight season.
Captain Nicklas Lidstrom, All-Star Pavel Datsyuk, Jiri Hudler and defenseman Brad Stuart scored and rookie Gustav Nyquist recorded his first NHL goal as the Red Wings jumped over idle Nashville for fourth place in the Western Conference.
Ty Conklin stopped 24 shots as Detroit emphatically won its second in a row following a six-game losing skid.
After Holmstrom snapped a 28-game goalless drought by scoring 1:06 into the contest from in front of the crease, Nyquist doubled the advantage just under 4 1/2 minutes later after tapping in a backhanded feed from Datsyuk.
Holmstrom gave Detroit a 3-0 lead 3:20 later after collecting Zetterberg's backhanded pass which sailed between his legs before beating Steve Mason for his 10th goal.
Hudler capped the first-period frenzy only 56 seconds later with his 23rd goal - and second in as many games.
Mark Letestu extended his goal-scoring streak to three games and captain Rick Nash also tallied for the Blue Jackets, who have lost seven of their last nine contests.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Holmstrom has 242 career goals - with half (121) coming on the power play. ... Mason, who yielded six goals, was pulled for the second time in as many days. He also received an early exit in Columbus' 6-3 loss to Edmonton on Sunday. ... The teams conclude their season series Wednesday in the Buckeye State.