The Detroit Red Wings kept their playoff hopes alive with one of their last home appearances of the season.
Hosting the similarly sagging Boston Bruins Saturday at Little Caesars Arena, the Wings came away with a 2-1 victory, winning for just the fourth time in 15 games. They've stayed in the race for the Eastern Conference's second wild-card berth because all the teams within a handful of points have struggled as much as the Wings to assert themselves.
The Wings (34-33-6) reached 74 points with just nine games to go in the season, with only three more at home. They still have four teams to climb over to reach a playoff spot.
Marco Kasper scored in the first period and Lucas Raymond in the second period. Cam Talbot made 21 saves.
Rearrangements
With Elmer Söderblom (undisclosed injury) still unavailable and the Wings having come away unsuccessful from their previous incarnations, the lines featured the most drastic changes yet in March. Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane were moved up to play on the first line with Dylan Larkin, while Kasper was assigned to center Raymond and Michael Rasmussen. The third line had J.T. Compher with Jonatan Berggren and Vladimir Tarasenko, and the fourth line had Tyler Motte with Austin Watson and Craig Smith.
Cat claws
DeBrincat, arguably the Wings' best player all season, gave another demonstration there's so much more to him than goals. Flattened by Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke on a play early in the first period. Larkin skated in and gave Peeke a couple of whacks before skating away and joining play. It was DeBrincat who really took offense, ...
