Red Wings 3, Sabres 2: Daniel Alfredsson scored one goal and set up another as host Detroit built an early three-goal lead en route to its fourth consecutive victory.

Darren Helm and Tomas Jurco also had first-period goals as the Red Wings opened a three-point lead over Columbus for the top wild-card slot in the Eastern Conference with five games to play. Danny DeKeyser collected two assists while Jimmy Howard turned aside 21 shots to remain perfect against Buffalo (5-0-0) and help coach Mike Babcock tie Jack Adams (413) for the most wins in franchise history.

Defensemen Jamie McBain and Nicolas Deslauriers scored for the Sabres, who lost for the 13th time in 15 games (2-12-1) and absorbed their seventh straight defeat at the hands of Detroit. Matt Hackett made 28 saves but dropped his fourth straight start since winning his season debut.

The Red Wings appeared on the verge of a blowout when Jurco and Alfredsson, who returned to the lineup after a one-game absence, scored 76 seconds apart for a 3-0 lead with 4:32 left in the opening period. Jurco deflected a blast from DeKeyser on the power play and Alfredsson cleaned up a rebound from the stick side after Helm opened the scoring by knocking in a rebound at 5:47.

The Sabres, who had been held to one goal or fewer in nine of their previous 14 games, got on the scoreboard near the 12 1/2-minute mark of the second period when McBain beat Howard short side from the left faceoff dot on the power play. Deslauriers registered his first career goal to cut the deficit to 3-2 with 13:20 left in regulation, ripping a wrister off the faceoff past Howard's glove side.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Red Wings C Pavel Datsyuk, who sat out the past 16 contests, returned to the lineup for the first time since Feb. 27 and played in his first game at Joe Louis Arena since Dec. 23. ... Buffalo C Luke Adam, who had his face bloodied when he was hit by a puck in the first period, collected his first assist since Dec. 7, 2011, on Deslauriers' tally. ... Alfredsson's goal and assist gave him 10 points in his last 10 games. ... Sabres D Chad Ruhwedel earned his first career point in 27 games with an assist on McBain's goal. ... Referee Don Van Massenhoven officiated his final contest of his career, which spanned 1,278 regular-season games and 87 Stanley Cup playoff contests.