from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,

With victories over Carolina and defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay in the last three games - the Wings earned five of a possible eight points against the two powerhouses - the Wings showed progress against the elite of the NHL.

"They're obviously two of the best teams in the league," coach Jeff Blashill said. "That played out last year and it'll play out this year, so to get five points is a good step for us as a hockey team.

"Tonight was one of our better games of the season. We played fast, hard, and managed the puck pretty well. We weren't without mistakes, but we created a lot of chances and we played the way real hockey teams have to play. It was a good step."

Furthermore, the Wings are now 2-3-0 against the Hurricanes this season, competitive against one of the NHL's best teams.

So, there’s some progress. Playing well enough to compete, and occasionally win, against some of the NHL's best.

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Below, watch the extended game highlights.