DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings are distancing themselves from the Calgary Flames in the battle for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

In fact, the Red Wings aren't going to be satisfied simply with the No. 8 seed. They are setting their sights much higher -- on fifth place.

The Red Wings exploded for four consecutive goals in the second period Friday night and defeated the Minnesota Wild 6-2 at Joe Louis Arena, matching their season-high four-game winning streak.

Johan Franzen tallied two goals and two assists for his first career four-point game in the regular season. Jonathan Ericsson, Tomas Holmstrom and Pavel Datsyuk each picked up one goal and one assist. Drew Miller scored a goal. Nicklas Lidstrom and Jason Williams both contributed two assists.

Goaltender Jimmy Howard celebrated his 26th birthday by making 25 saves in his 21st consecutive start.

Detroit tied the Colorado Avalanche for seventh in the West with 89 points, only one point behind the Los Angeles Kings and two back of the Nashville Predators, whom the Red Wings visit Saturday night.

Detroit is six points ahead of No. 9 Calgary. Each team has eight games remaining.

"It sure helps to be on the right side of the eighth spot and not just being the team that's chasing," Lidstrom said. "We know we're not out of the woods yet. We still have to make sure we'll be in the playoffs.

Red Wings vs. Wild game highlights

"When you're winning, you're looking at the teams above you who you can catch, and Nashville is one of the teams that is real close to us now."

The Red Wings will face the Predators without forward Dan Cleary, who reaggravated a pulled groin in the first period and did not return. It was Cleary's second game back after sitting out two games with the injury.

Playing their best hockey of the season, the Red Wings are 11-2-1 in their past 14 games.

"Guys have been playing well, we've had it pretty much going since the Olympic break," Howard said. "(The break) allowed guys to relax and get their energy back for the last 20 games or so."

The Red Wings weren't able to capitalize on three power-play opportunities in the first period, but it didn't come back to bite them in the second, when they outshot the Wild 19-9 and outscored them 4-1.

After watching the Henrik Zetterberg-Valtteri Filppula-Todd Bertuzzi line carry the team the past three games, Holmstrom said of his line, with Franzen and Datsyuk: "It was our turn tonight."

Franzen, who had gone pointless in his previous four games, launched the rally with his eighth goal at 1:19. Holmstrom scored on the power play at 4:32, tipping in a slap-pass from Lidstrom.

"It was bouncing my way tonight, our way," Franzen said. "It happens. Last game we didn't play good as a line, the couple of games before that we created a lot of chances, nothing went in. Just the opposite tonight, everything went in.

"When we're sharing the goal scoring, it's hard to defend against."

Said coach Mike Babcock: "I thought Mule (Franzen) was good. Just one of those things, he hadn't scored in a while. It was good to see him get back at it. I thought Pav's line was good tonight. When you got a good team, lots of different people can contribute."

Ericsson made it 3-0 with a short-handed goal at 10:03. After exiting the penalty box, following a brief two-man advantage by the Wild, Ericsson lugged the puck into the offensive zone and then chased it down behind the net. He passed back to Lidstrom at the blue line and skated into the slot to deflect in a blast by the captain.

It was Ericsson's fourth goal of the season but his first in 43 games, dating to Oct. 29.

"I was on my way to change, but then, I saw Nick was going to shoot it," Ericsson said. "I know he always gets the puck through and I just told myself to stay in front of the net. It's a lucky bounce, but it always feels good to get a goal."

Datsyuk capped the rally with his team-leading 24th goal at 11:23.

The Wild made it a little interesting by getting goals from Andrew Brunette, on the power play, at 16:07 of the second period, and Owen Nolan at 2:09 of the third period to cut their deficit to 4-2.

Brunette's goal snapped Detroit's streak of 30 consecutive penalty kills, which dated to March 3. The Red Wings hadn't allowed a power-play goal in their past 10 games.

On Nolan's goal, Howard fanned on a bouncing puck, trying to direct it into the corner.

But the Red Wings put the game away with goals from Franzen, on the power play, at 5:29, and Miller at 7:26.

"I would have liked to have the second one back, should have played it like a shortstop and attacked it instead of having the puck play me," Howard said. "But bounces happen over the course of the season."