Red Wings at 100 points for 8th straight season

The Detroit Red Wings got back into the postseason and tied an NHL record.

Pavel Datsyuk had 2 goals and an assist, and Detroit became the first team to secure a playoff spot this season with a 5-3 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday night in Detroit.

It was the fifth straight win for the NHL-leading Red Wings, who reached 100 points for a league-record-tying eighth straight season. Montreal had 100-point seasons from 1975-82.

"I think you should give our organization a lot of credit for what we've been able to do," captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. "Especially with the new salary system where everybody is on an equal playing field."

Johan Franzen had a goal and an assist for the Red Wings, and Mikael Samuelsson and Valtteri Filppula also scored. Lidstrom had 2 assists and Chris Osgood made 16 saves.

Dallas led 3-1 after Brendan Morrow's power-play goal with 6:18 left in the second period. It was his 27th of the season.

Then Datsyuk took over. He brought the Red Wings back within one with his 27th, knocking in his own rebound with 3:43 left in the second period.

"A two-goal lead isn't safe," Morrow said. "Anytime we get any hesitation in our game, it's tough to win, especially against Detroit."

Datsyuk tied it at 3-3 just 36 seconds into the third period when he beat Turco with a slap shot from the inside edge of the right circle.

Samuelsson was credited with the winning goal just 25 seconds later when defenseman Stephane Robidas accidentally knocked in the rebound of Samuelsson's shot.

Thrashers 6, Flames 4: Bobby Holik scored on a pass from Ilya Kovalchuk in the closing minutes, and Atlanta overcame a 3-goal deficit in beating visiting Calgary.

Kovalchuk scored into an empty net with 1:01 remaining, completing a hat trick and pushing his goal total to 48 this season.

Devils 4, Wild 3 (SO): Jamie Langenbrunner scored the shootout winner, and visiting New Jersey moved back on top of the Eastern Conference standings with a victory over Minnesota.

Lightning 3, Bruins 1: Mike Smith stopped 35 shots, and visiting Tampa Bay got goals from Jeff Halpern and Andreas Karlsson in a victory over slumping Boston.

Senators 3, Canadiens 0: Jason Spezza scored 2 goals and Martin Gerber stopped 28 shots for his second shutout, leading Ottawa over host Montreal.

Kings 4, Predators 1: Alexander Frolov scored 2 goals to lift Los Angeles over host Nashville.