The Red Wings aren’t simply checking off the final days of the schedule, they are closing the season on a positive note.
They continued an impressive season-ending run Wednesday with a 5-2 victory in New Jersey.
The victories aren’t going to get the Wings into the playoffs — they were eliminated Saturday — but it’ll enable the Wings to head into the off season with a good feeling. They’ve now won six of their last nine games (6-2-1) and have a chance to reach the 40-victory plateau Thursday in Toronto.
“It’s the same thing every game, we’re playing for each other, and we want to finish this on a good note,” forward Lucas Raymond, who had two assists, told FanDuel Sports Detroit. “There’s no excuse for not giving 100 percent.”
BOX SCORE: Red Wings 5, Devils 2
Montreal, who the Wings have been chasing for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, finally clinched the wild-card spot Wednesday with a 4-2 victory over Carolina.
Jonatan Berggren (12th goal), J.T. Compher (11th goal), Dylan Larkin (30th goal), Alex DeBrincat (38th goal) and Marco Kasper (empty net, 19th goal) scored for the Wings, while goaltender Alex Lyon stopped 27 shots.
Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson and Raymond all had two assists. Raymond’s two points gave him 80 for the season.
“It’s fun, I’d be lying if I said otherwise,” said Raymond of reaching 80 points. “I’m just happy with the way we played. We keep grinding and doing it for each other.”
Erik Haula (power play, 11th goal) and Dawson Mercer (19th goal) had third-period Devils’ goals, cutting the Wings’ lead to 3-2.
But DeBrincat scored his team-leading 38th at 17 minutes, 9 seconds of the third period, crossing through the slot, to restore the two-goal lead for the Wings, 4-2. Larkin’s assist on the play gave him 70 points.
It was a depleted Devils lineup the Wings were facing. New Jersey, which will open the playoffs this weekend against Carolina, was resting numerous regulars. But the Wings continue to face whoever is opposite them this time of season, and concentrate on winning.
“We’ve asked them to play for each other, they owe it to each other,” coach Todd McLellan told FDSN. “That was the message, keep working and building our game.”
Larkin’s goal allowed him to reach 30 goals for the fourth consecutive season, the ninth Wings player to accomplish the feat, and the first since Henrik Zetterberg.
The Wings (39-35-7) close out the season Thursday in Toronto.
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
@tkulfan
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