The Detroit Red Wings made it close for a while, but the Colorado Avalanche proved much the better team.
Wednesday's contest at Little Caesars Arena pitted the Stanley Cup-eyeing Avs against the wild-card-hopeful Wings, and just like their first meeting, Colorado scored first, and scored more. Credit the Wings for getting within a goal at 2-1, but the Avs pulled away with a 5-2 victory.
The Wings (23-23-6) had their chances — a puck hit a goalpost on a power play; Pius Suter missed an open net in the third — but the Avs closed on theirs.