Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill wasn’t in the room, so he can’t say for sure what was said. But this much he knows: Between the second and third period against Columbus on Thursday, captain Henrik Zetterberg had a few choice words for his teammates with the Red Wings clinging on to a one-goal lead against a non-playoff team in a must-win game.

Then, more than seven minutes into the third period, Zetterberg backed it up by banging home a Justin Abdelkader shot to give the Red Wings a 2-0 lead. They’d win that game and then another Saturday in Florida -- ruining Kevin Spacey night in Sunrise -- and suddenly, the Red Wings' slide down the standings was finished.