Dallas Stars eliminated after Red Wings’ win over Predators

The Detroit Red Wings were served some home cookin’ at the right time.

The Wings won their third home game this week, 5-2, over the Nashville Predators, to increase their chances for a postseason berth.

Their victory ended the playoff hopes of the Dallas Stars, who were playing a critical game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night while the Wings topped the Preds.

Detroit pumped 38 shots on Chris Mason, and fired the puck 65 times in total against the Predators. They rallied in this game after going down 2-1 in the third period: Second-period goals by Johan Franzen, Patrick Eaves and Pavel Datsyuk gave the Wings a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

The Wings outscored their opponents 12-3 this week in chasing the final Western Conference playoff spot. They now have 54 points, leapfrogging the Minnesota Wild for the moment into seventh place.

Detroit closes its season at Dallas on Saturday. The Wild have games against vs. the Oilers and at the Avalanche left.

Thus ends the Stars’ postseason push. It was an unlikely one after the team traded away Brenden Morrow, Derek Roy and Jaromir Jagr at the deadline. But in the end, the Stars’ 0-2-1 stumble at the end of the season thwarted their playoff hopes.