Detroit plays the Minnesota Wild tonight at Joe Louis Arena knowing that its closest pursuer in the Western Conference race to make the playoffs lost a chance last night to make up some ground as ninth place Calgary fell 3-to-2 to the New York Islanders.
So the Red Wings hold on to their 4-point lead over the Flames for the eighth and final postseason berth. Minnesota comes into Detroit after winning last night at Philadelphia.
In college hockey, Michigan plays this weekend in the NCAA tournament Midwest regional in Ft. Wayne with the Wolverines taking on Bemidji State in tomorrow night’s semi-finals.
