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Red Wings grab another important win, beat Lightning 3-2

Victor Hedman, Darren Helm

Tampa Bay Lightning’s Victor Hedman (77), of Sweden, trips Detroit Red Wings’ Darren Helm (43) after knocking away the puck as Helm skated toward the goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Sunday, March 30, 2014, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

AP

There seems to be some division regarding whether the Detroit Red Wings would serve as a scary first-round opponent in the 2014 playoffs or not, but the Red Wings improved their chances of at least making it that far after a highly successful weekend.

(Gustav Nyquist illustrated why some believe the Red Wings are dangerous in a very dramatic way today.)

One day after giving the Toronto Maple Leafs a crushing loss, the Red Wings beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on Sunday.

With that, the Red Wings will remain at least two points ahead of the wild card pack at the end of today and hold that first wild card spot, making them the Eastern Conference’s seventh-ranked team.

Detroit holds a two-point lead (84 to 82) over the Columbus Blue Jackets for the top wild card spot, although Columbus holds a game in hand. Most importantly to a team trying to keep its playoff streak alive, the Red Wings have a four-point lead against the plummeting Maple Leafs while the Washington Capitals (80 points, one game in hand on Detroit) face the Nashville Predators on Sunday.

Even with that win against fellow Atlantic team Tampa Bay today, the Red Wings can pretty much keep their sights set on holding off Columbus, Washington, Toronto, New Jersey and the rest of the East’s potential usurpers.

As far as the Lightning go, they seem that much more likely to be the Atlantic’s third seed, as the Montreal Canadiens have two more standings points (although Tampa Bay holds a game in hand there).

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins