DETROIT -- Darren Helm pressured New Jersey with his speed and his Detroit Red Wings teammates frustrated the Devils with their patience.

It added up to a 3-1 victory Wednesday at Joe Louis Arena that sent the Red Wings into the all-star break feeling good.

After relying too much on their offense the last couple of months, the Red Wings turned in a solid defensive performance and got good goaltending from Jimmy Howard, who made 23 saves.

Valtteri Filppula snapped a 1-1 tie by taking a cross-ice pass from Jiri Hudler and firing a shot past Martin Brodeur at 5:32 of the third period.

"The way we played today, where we didn’t give up much, is a step in the right direction," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “After a couple days of practice, I thought we skated and we were better in our own zone."

Helm has been outstanding the last several weeks. He opened the scoring on a breakaway at 1:43 of the first period, after picking off a bad pass by Mark Fraser in the neutral zone.

"I think I’m just starting to find my step, not necessarily speed, but confidence," Helm said. “Seeing the ice a little better than I have been, getting a lot more ice time and opportunities. When you get that it’s a lot easier to get into a game, get focused."

Helm has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in his last 13 games.

"He’s always skating out there,"’ Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. “When he’s got the puck with that speed, he’s hard to defend. Sometimes he’ll chip the puck ahead of them and skate into it, and that makes it even harder to defend against him.

"That’s something we need out of him, someone with that speed that can push their (defense) back."

Johan Franzen sealed the victory by scoring his 21st goal with 44 seconds remaining.

The Devils have the worst record in the NHL but had won four in a row and were 6-0-1 in their last seven, playing much better since Jacques Lemaire replaced John MacLean as their coach.

Lemaire was not happy with the officiating in the third period.

First, Flint native Brian Rolston, who scored his team’s lone goal at 6:35 of the first period to tie it at 1-1, received a double-minor penalty for high-sticking Patrick Eaves with 8:58 to play in the third.

The referees didn’t see it, allowing play to continue while Eaves was down (Babcock said Eaves is fine). After a stoppage, a linesman alerted the referees.

"I’m surprised at the four minutes," Lemaire said. “Three of the best players in the National Hockey League went over and talked to them and all of a sudden it’s four minutes. ... Don’t want to criticize. Just saying it doesn’t look good."

The Red Wings didn’t capitalize (they had a two-man advantage for 1:40 midway through that power play), but it killed time while the Devils were trying to score the tying goal.

Lemaire thought they had tied it with 2:28 to play on an apparent goal by Ilya Kovalchuk. But referee Dave Jackson waved it off, ruling the Howard was pushed into the net.

"I’ve seen a lot of goals like that in my career that weren’t called (back),’’ Lemaire said.

The Red Wings have won nine consecutive games at home against the Devils since New Jersey’s last win in Detroit on Nov. 6, 1996 (2-0).

Detroit beat the Devils at their own patient game.

"We didn’t try to force the issue at all like we have in past games, when we tried to force it in the middle and turn it over and they’re stuffing it right back down our throats,"’ Howard said. “We played a very patient style. Whatever they gave us we tried to take advantage of it."

It was a relief for Howard, who hasn’t been as sharp since early December.

"I just wanted to go into the break on the right foot,’’ Howard said. “I didn’t want to go off with a sour taste in my mouth. I wanted to be able to relax this weekend.’’

That’s just what his teammates will do.

"It helps finishing on a good note and winning the last game before the break,’’ Lidstrom said. “It a makes a better break for the boys.’’