In the battle for home ice in the playoffs, the Detroit Red Wings have dropped back to the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference after losing to the New Jersey Devils, ironically, on their home ice, 2-1.
The Red Wings were on the back-end of a back-to-back and the Devils came in winners of four straight, so the odds favored the Devils, who are currently the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Red Wings had plenty of opportunities to take this game, though, but the chances wouldn't light the lamp until six minutes into the second period when Tomas Holmstrom's 11th goal of the season tied things up. Petr Sykora wristed in the game-winner, though, midway through the third period and the Wings couldn't answer.
The Wings' game vs. the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday is now must-win. The Wings will also need to get help from the Colorado Avalanche, as the Nashville Predators would need to lose.
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