RECAP: Red Wings share 'a lot of smiles' after 5-2 win over Flames

CALGARY --Upbeat music was playing from a portable speaker. Several Detroit Red Wings players were exchanging laughs and high fives.

That was the scene in the visiting dressing room at Scotiabank Saddledome after the Red Wings beat the the Calgary Flames, 5-2, on Thursday night for their season-high fifth straight victory.
"We just keep grinding," said Detroit goalie Magnus Hellberg, who made 33 saves against Calgary. "We trust each other and everybody works hard for each other. A lot of smiles in the locker room after this one, for sure."
Tyler Bertuzzi had a goal and two assists, Dominik Kubalik scored twice and captain Dylan Larkin notched three helpers. Robby Fabbri and Pius Suter also found the back of the net for the Red Wings, who were playing their second game in as many days.
"We finally have the lines the way it seems like we want them," David Perron said. "Everything is starting to click. Everyone is finding their role. It's a good feeling to string wins together right now."
It was a milestone night for Perron, who picked up the secondary assist on Fabbri's second-period power-play goal to earn his 700th career NHL point.
"I was stuck at 695 (points) for a bit, so I wasn't sure if it was gonna happen this year or in two years," said Perron, who became the fourth member of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft class to reach the 700-point mark. "It was good. Our power play has been doing pretty good recently. We've been clicking and a lot of guys have been stepping up at the right time. It's a good feeling."
With the win, the Red Wings (26-20-8; 60 points) are just two points out of the second and final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Flames fell to 25-19-11 (61 points) overall.
Jake Walman returned to Detroit's lineup after missing three games because of an upper-body injury.
NEXT UP: The Red Wings will travel to face the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night at Climate Pledge Arena. Puck drop is set for 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.

SCORING SUMMARY

Calgary 1, Detroit 0 (15:22, 1st period)
Elias Lindholm forced a turnover behind Detroit's goal line before scoring a shorthanded goal off a pass from Mikael Backlund.
Detroit 1, Calgary 1 (18:59, 1st period)
After Bertuzzi took the puck from Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov, he found Kubalik in the right faceoff circle. Kubalik ripped a wrister past opposing netminder Dan Vladar for his 15th goal of the season. Jordan Oesterle picked up an assist on Kubalik's first goal since Jan. 19.

Detroit 2, Calgary 1 (2:27, 2nd period)
Moritz Seider's shot from the point was blocked by Vladar and bounced away from the net, but Perron grabbed it near the boards and fed Larkin in the left faceoff circle. Larkin quickly set up Fabbri in the opposite circle for a man-advantage goal.

Calgary 2, Detroit 2 (9:03, 2nd period)
Rasmus Andersson sent an outlet pass to Dillon Dube for a breakaway tally.
Detroit 3, Calgary 2 (15:21, 2nd period)
Bertuzzi threaded a nifty pass from behind Calgary's goal line to Larkin in the slot, who one-timed a feed to Kubalik in the right faceoff circle. Kubalik promptly blasted home a snap shot for his second goal of the night.

Detroit 4, Calgary 2 (18:43, 2nd period)
Bertuzzi tipped in Fabbri's strike from the right faceoff circle on a power play to double Detroit's lead. Larkin was credited with an assist on Bertuzzi's third goal of the season.

Detroit 5, Calgary 2 (3:55, 3rd period)
Detroit put the game out of reach when Suter, assisted by Filip Zadina and Ben Chiarot, sent a wrister from the right faceoff circle past Vladar for his eighth goal of the season.

QUOTABLE

Lalonde on the importance of the Red Wings' play in the second period
"We weren't very good in the first. We were very flat. We were very fortunate to get out of the period tied. I think, in a crazy way, the sloppy goal against sparked us a little bit. It kind of woke us up."
Hellberg on his start against Calgary
"I'm used to playing a lot of games, but now I'm in a situation where it's kind of the opposite. But you have to adapt to the situation. And (Ville Husso) Huss has been playing unbelievable. So I just have to be ready when the chance comes. I felt good today."
Perron on the mood in Detroit's dressing room
"It's a great feeling. We've been looking for something like this for a while, quite honestly. All year we've been talking about it. We wanna be in the playoff picture eventually, you gotta make points on other teams and I think we've done that recently. The good and bad news is now we're in the hunt, but we gotta keep going. Any night that you don't get points, other teams that you're chasing or around are all winning it seems like."