Detroit – The Red Wings needed a victory, and it wound up being closer than it probably should have, but they ultimately earned a win before hitting the road for a while.

The Wings got past the Boston Bruins Tuesday 5-4 at Little Caesars Arena, only the Wings’ second victory in their last seven games and ending a four-game winless streak.

With the standings so tight and very little separation among teams, the Wings can’t afford to slip too far down. They needed a victory to stay in the thick of air-tight race.

And especially after the injury-riddled Bruins edged the Wings Saturday in Boston, and with the Wings (14-11-2) heading off on a six-game road trip beginning Thursday in Columbus, they needed a victory to regain some momentum.

“We have to take advantage of home games,” said Alex DeBrincat, who had a goal and assist. “For the most part we’ve been good at home but for a couple duds, but overall we’ve been pretty good and we have to keep that up. (Now), it’s having a good road mentality for these next six games and coming up strong there as well.”

Goaltender John Gibson stopped 32 shots, earning his first victory since Oct. 28 having lost his last five decisions.

Gibson was steady early, and was good in the third period with the Bruins pressing, to preserve the victory.

“He got a win and it wasn’t an easy win for him,” coach Todd McLellan said. “There were some real tough saves and periods of nothing. The game was under control, and then it wasn’t, so it was very much a rollercoaster game for a goaltender to play in.

“He got the win, so it can’t do anything but help his confidence and our confidence and the team’s confidence. I’m happy for him. It’s been a long while since he got one (win) and I’m happy for him.”

Ben Chiarot’s goal at 16:15 of the second period put the Wings ahead 4-2, after Boston (15-13-0) had scored twice to cut the lead to 3-2.

Dylan Larkin found Chiarot trailing on a rush, Chiarot finding room down the slot, and Chiarot whistled his fourth goal of the season, after the Bruins had rallied to within a goal.

“It’s a huge momentum change,” said DeBrincat of Chiarot’s timely goal. “They had a little bit of momentum and Ben comes up big. Larks makes a good play and to get that 4-2 lead, that two goal lead back, it makes it a lot easier for us.”

Lucas Raymond’s power play goal in the third period, his ninth goal, extended the Wings’ lead to 5-2 at 3:55.

But the Bruins wouldn’t quit. Boston’s Marat Khusnutdinov sliced the Wings’ lead to 5-3 with his fourth goal at 14:57 and Alex Steeves scored his second goal of the game with 11.2 seconds left to make it 5-4.

James van Riemsdyk and Moritz Seider added Wings goals, as they drove Boston goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who was so effective Saturday, out of the net after making 18 of 23 saves.

“Our start was better,” McLellan said. “We got to a real good goaltender, he didn’t finish the night, and we were real good and solid all over the rink. That Chiarot goal was real important for us, it settled us back down. We’re learning, and at least we got the win today as we learned lessons.”

For the second consecutive game, both against the Bruins, the Wings were better defensively than they’ve recently been, limiting Boston to few quality scoring chances.

“Every team will have their chances and moments, and it’s just about limiting them as little as possible,” Seider said.

The Wings lost Michael Rasmussen to an undisclosed injury. Rasmussen only played 9:22 on 15 shifts before leaving after a collision with two Boston players.

“(Rasmussen was) double hit by a couple of heavy players,” McLellan said. “He just didn’t have the strength to come back. There’s nothing that’s damaged or anything like that. We’ll see how he is (Wednesday) morning.”

Jonathan Aspirot scored the other Bruins goal.

tkulfan@detroitnews.com

@tkulfan