DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings moved closer to their 25th consecutive playoff appearance.

Jimmy Howard made 30 saves for the shutout in the Red Wings' 3-0 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.

"It's a big thing," said Red Wings rookie Andreas Athanasiou, who scored a goal. "These last couple of weeks we know how important every game is so we've been doing a good job being calm, cool and collective here, even when we were looking on from the outside there for a little bit we stuck with it because we believe in ourselves."

Detroit is third in the Atlantic Division, two points ahead of the fourth-place Boston Bruins and two points ahead of the Flyers, who hold the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and have a game in hand.

"We didn't get the job done so we just have to pivot real quick and look at the two points tomorrow night," Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said.

Philadelphia plays the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday in a home game. The Red Wings can clinch a playoff berth with any kind of win at Boston on Thursday.

"If we're playing like we did tonight, we will have a chance," Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg said. "It's a short turnaround for us, just got to get on the plane here, get some fluid and food in us and get ready for tomorrow."

Darren Helm and Kyle Quincey also scored for Detroit (41-28-11), which played its last home game of the regular season.

"I thought today was probably our most complete game," the Red Wings' Luke Glendening said. "(Howard) had to stand on his head a few times for us but I thought that was the most complete game we've played all year."

It was Howard's second shutout of the season and 22nd of his career.

"I think his game's in a good spot," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "I think he's put himself in a spot where he's in control of his game. He's done a real good job."

Steve Mason made 23 saves for Philadelphia (39-27-13).

"They played a good game," Flyers forward Claude Giroux said. "We played a good game, too. They got a couple of bounces. We had chances on the power play and at even strength."

Helm gave Detroit a 1-0 lead 7:57 into the first period with an unassisted goal. He put a loose puck -- after a turnover by Philadelphia defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere -- off of Mason and into the net from in front. It was Helm's 13th goal.

Athanasiou's short-handed goal 3:15 into the second period made it 2-0. He picked up a loose puck around the Red Wings blue line along the left wing boards for a breakaway.

He made a move and slid a forehand short side past Mason.

"Saw the puck coming around the boards, kind of got a fortunate bounce over (Jakub Voracek's) stick," Athanasiou said. "And (Riley Sheahan) was yelling and once I heard him yell, 'Go, go, go' I kind of knew I was clear cut there so it was a good feeling."

It was Athanasiou's eighth goal and Detroit's second short-handed goal of the season.

Quincey got an empty-net goal with 1:43 left for his fourth goal of the season.

Mason stopped Helm on a breakaway and Glendening on the rebound with a little less than 10 minutes left in the second period.

Philadelphia's Voracek hit the crossbar with 6:45 left in the second period.

Mason stopped Henrik from the bottom of the right circle 3:33 into the game.

NOTES: Detroit was third in the Atlantic Division, tied in points with the Boston Bruins but had more regulation or overtime wins (38-37) than the Bruins and had a game in hand and three games left. The Red Wings are looking to reach the Stanley Cup Playoff for the 25th consecutive season. ... The Flyers were in the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with a game in hand on Detroit and four games remaining. ... RW Tomas Jurco replaced rookie RW Anthony Mantha in the Red Wings lineup. ... Philadelphia was without G Michal Neuvirth (lower body) and DAndrew MacDonald (upper body).