DETROIT -- Jiri Hudler scored with 14:30 remaining in the third period and again in a shootout to help the Detroit Red Wings beat the Florida Panthers 2-1 on Sunday.
Pavel Datsyuk also scored in the shootout for the Red Wings, who held on to win when Kris Versteeg missed high on Florida's last attempt. The Panthers did secure a point to move three ahead of second-place Washington in the Southeast Division with three games remaining.
Florida leads ninth-place Buffalo by five points in the conference standings.
Detroit moved a point ahead of Nashville and two ahead of Chicago in the race for fourth place in the Western Conference.
Tomas Fleischmann scored his 26th goal of the season for the Panthers in the first period.
