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Detroit • The Detroit Red Wings' push to make the playoffs got a boost with two desperately needed points.

Johan Franzen scored twice and Jimmy Howard had 34 saves to help Detroit beat the Phoenix Coyotes 4-0 Monday night in a matchup of two teams in a logjam for the final two spots in the Western Conference playoffs.

The Red Wings moved within a point of eighth-place Columbus in conference. They're hoping to finish the last three games of the regular season strong enough to extend the franchise's postseason streak to 22 years — the first without Steve Yzerman or Nicklas Lidstrom as a captain.

"Of course, taking over the captaincy, it means a lot to me for this team to do well," said Henrik Zetterberg, who had three assists. "We've been doing good the past 21 seasons and we want to keep that going."

Detroit had won only one of its previous six games, picking up a precious point in three shootout losses during the slump.

"This was a huge game for us, where we are in the standings and coming off a disappointing road trip," Howard said. "We have our work cut out for us. One down and now three to go."

The Red Wings close the regular season at home against the defending champion Los Angeles Kings, Nashville and at Dallas, which is also vying for one of the final spots in the West.

"We can enjoy this for a minute," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "But all it does is give us another opportunity."

Damien Brunner scored late in the first period and Valtteri Filppula had a power-play goal late in the second to help Detroit match its season high in power-play scoring. Franzen had an empty-net goal with 1:22 left.

The Coyotes are on the brink of elimination after losing for the fourth time in five games.

Penguins 3, Senators 1 • In Ottawa, Tomas Vokoun made 34 saves and Dustin Jeffrey had a goal and an assist to lead Pittsburgh to its seventh straight victory.

Jarome Iginla and Tyler Kennedy also scored, and Brenden Morrow had two assists for the Penguins, who have already clinched first place in the Eastern Conference. EASTERN CONFERENCE

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

z-Pttsbrgh 45 35 10 0 70 153 109

x-Boston 44 27 12 5 59 123 97

d-Wash. 45 25 18 2 52 140 123

x-Montreal 45 27 13 5 59 139 120

x-Toronto 45 25 15 5 55 138 124

N.Y. Isles 45 24 16 5 53 134 131

N.Y. Rngrs 45 24 17 4 52 120 106

Ottawa 45 23 16 6 52 109 99

Winnipeg 46 24 19 3 51 123 135

New Jersey 45 17 18 10 44 106 121

Buffalo 46 19 21 6 44 119 140

Philly 45 20 22 3 43 124 137

Carolina 45 18 24 3 39 118 145

Tampa Bay 45 17 24 4 38 140 141

Florida 45 13 26 6 32 104 162

WESTERN CONFERENCE

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

z-Chicago 45 34 6 5 73 147 97

y-Anaheim 46 29 11 6 64 134 112

y-Vncuver 46 26 13 7 59 124 111

x-L.A. 45 26 14 5 57 128 111

San Jose 45 24 14 7 55 118 109

St. Louis 45 26 17 2 54 119 112

Minnesota 45 24 18 3 51 116 119

Columbus 46 22 17 7 51 114 117

Detroit 45 21 16 8 50 113 112

Dallas 45 22 19 4 48 127 133

Phoenix 45 19 18 8 46 114 122

Calgary 45 19 22 4 42 123 149

Edmonton 45 17 21 7 41 111 127

Nashville 45 15 21 9 39 104 128

Colorado 45 15 23 7 37 109 142

d-division leader

x-clinched playoff spot

y-clinched division

z-clinched conference

Monday's games

Winnipeg 2, Buffalo 1

Pittsburgh 3, Ottawa 1

Detroit 4, Phoenix 0

Anaheim 3, Edmonton 0

Vancouver 3, Chicago 1

Tuesday's games

Montreal at New Jersey, 5 p.m.

Winnipeg at Washington, 5 p.m.

N.Y. Islanders at Carolina, 5 p.m.

Boston at Philadelphia, 5:30 p.m.

N.Y. Rangers at Florida, 5:30 p.m.

Buffalo at Pittsburgh, 5:30 p.m.

Colorado at St. Louis, 6 p.m.

Calgary at Nashville, 6 p.m.

Los Angeles at Minnesota, 6 p.m.

Dallas at San Jose, 8 p.m.