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BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Red Wings coach Mike Babcock will enjoy the win more than the milestone for now. As special as it was to pass Jack Adams franchise win total, making the playoffs is the more immediate priority. Darren Helm scored the go-ahead goal 3:33 into the third period to spark a three-goal outburst and inch Detroit to the cusp of clinching a playoff berth following a 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night. "The win tonight is way more important than that," Babcock said, when asked about the significance of earning his 414th career victory, one more than Adams. "But what I would say to you is these are things you think about the summer. And Im thrilled." Babcock then shifted his attention to his teams next test. The Red Wings (38-27-14) travel to play Pittsburgh on Wednesday needing only one point to secure one of the Eastern Conferences two wild-card playoff spots, and extend the teams run of post-season berths to 23 straight seasons. "I know weve got a game in Pittsburgh tomorrow. Were going to enjoy this tonight," Babcock said, noting the game at Pittsburgh could potentially be a first-round playoff preview. "The reality is, its an important game tomorrow." Brendan Smith, David Legwand and Pavel Datsyuk, into an empty net, also scored for the Red Wings. Jimmy Howard made 25 saves in a game the Red Wings rallied back after spotting the Sabres a 1-0 lead. Zemgus Girgensons scored both goals for the Sabres (21-49-9), who are already guaranteed of finishing in last place once the season ends on Sunday. The Red Wings continued their domination of Buffalo. Theyve won eight straight since a 6-2 loss on Oct. 13, 2009, and improved to 23-2-1-1 against Buffalo since March 27, 1996, according to STATS. "Its one good step in the right direction," Howard said. "Weve got to find a way to get a point or two points there tomorrow and keep it rolling, because you want to feel good going into the playoffs." Howard did his part in stopping several shots to keep the game tied at 1 during a Sabres two-man advantage that spanned 1:51 in the second period. His best stops came on bang-bang chances. After turning aside Cody Hodgsons hard shot from the left circle, Howard kicked out his right pad to foil Rasmus Ristolainens attempt to convert the rebound. Sabres coach Ted Nolan said coming up empty on the power play changed the games momentum. "When you play a good team like Detroit, they know how to close deals. We have a 5-on-3 with a chance to go ahead, we dont do it, and thats what happens," Nolan said. "You look at the things we didnt do right." The Red Wings found their groove to start the third. Helm started the play that led to his go-ahead goal by winning a faceoff to the left of the Sabres net. He drew the puck back to Kyle Quincey, whose shot from the left point was deflected on its way to the net. Matt Hackett made the initial stop, but was unable to control the rebound, which squirted through a crowd of players in front. Helm gathered up the loose puck and took a few steps to his right, where he snapped it into the open side before Hackett had time to recover. Legwand then made it 3-1 to seal the win by beating Hackett through the legs with 4:14 remaining. Girgensons made it close 2:03 later by capping a great individual rush, in which he got between two defenders and roofed a shot over Howards right shoulder. NOTES: The Sabres called up G Andrey Makarov from AHL Rochester to serve as the backup. He became the eighth goalie to dress for at least one game this season, including Ryan Vinz, a Sabres HarborCenter employee who backed up Jhonas Enroth the day Ryan Miller was traded to St. Louis. ... Red Wings RW Daniel Alfredssons assist on Smiths goal upped career total to 712, tying him with Jean Beliveau and Scott Stevens for 48th on NHL list. ... 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Hanigan was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds and Bell from the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of a three-team trade Tuesday. The deal was announced after Hanigan agreed to a $10.75 million, three-year contract that runs through 2016 and includes a club option for 2017. Tampa Bay sent minor league pitcher Justin Choate and a player to be named to the Diamondbacks. Arizona dealt left-hander David Holmberg to Cincinnati. Rays executive vice-president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman called a Hanigan "a tremendously talented defensive catcher" who can also help the Rays offensively. "He takes a lot of pride in what he does behind the plate and we also like what he can do in the batters box, especially against left-handed pitching," Friedman said. "Hes a guy weve had our eye on for a while. and so when we had the opportunity to acquire him, we were aggressive to do so." Hanigan, 33, is expected to become Tampa Bays primary catcher, even though he and Friedman said they wont head into spring training with a preconceived notion. The trade was completed a day after free agent catcher Jose Molina was re-signed to a $4.5 million, two-year contract. "Well figure out matchups, well figure out what makes the most sense on any given night, but we feel like he makes our team better," Friedman said. "Whether thats 70 games, 80 games, 90 games, 100 games, I dont know yet. Well figure that out as the season gets underway." Bell will be a candidate to become the Rays closer -- a job held the past two seasons by Fernando Rodney, who is a free agent. For the Diamondbacks, giving up the hard-throwing right-hander was a cost-saving move. The deal saves the team $5.5 million of Bells $9 million salary -- and Miami is paying the other $3.5 million as part of the three-team trade in October last year. Arizona general manager Kevin Towers gains flexibility in trying bolster depth and plug holes. "Weve still got some bench pieces we need to put together, We still have interest in bringing back Eric Chavez," Towers said, adding that the Diamondbacks also remain in the market for a starting pitcher and perhaps a corner outfielder with power. Hes also excited about the prospects headed for Arizona from Tampa Bay, particularly the player to be named. "Someone we value a lot as a prospect," Towers said. "Thats not to take anything away from Mr. Choate, but I would say that probably is the key player in the deal." Hanigan is a .262 career hitter who spent the past seven seasons with the Reds. He batted .198 with two homers and 21 RBIs in 75 games in 2013, when he spent two stints on the disabled list -- one because of a strained left oblique muscle and the other a sprained left wrist. Friedman is confident the catcher is healthy andd "will return to the really good player hes always been.dddddddddddd" Hanigan is looking forward to getting to know the pitching staff and play for manager Joe Maddon, whos led the Rays to the playoffs four of the past six seasons. "The numbers speak for themselves in terms of the competitiveness of the team year after year. Its a great thing they have going," Hanigan said. "Everybody Ive talked to has great things to say about Joe and the organization, the atmosphere they create to compete," Hanigan added. "Im just looking forward to helping the team out. Theyve got a lot of young arms. Theyve got a lot of good pitching. Im excited to get to know these guys." Bell, 36, has 168 saves in 10 seasons with the New York Mets, San Diego, Miami and the Diamondbacks. He led the majors with 132 saves for the Padres from 2009-11 and his 166 saves over the past five seasons are third the majors after Jonathan Papelbons 173 and Mariano Riveras 170. Bell was 5-2 with a 4.11 ERA with 15 saves in 69 appearances for the Diamondbacks last season. He will have an opportuinity to win the closers job in Tampa Bay, although Friedman stressed the Rays didnt necessarily acquire him with that in mind. "I think I have a shot of winning that job, the ninth-inning job, but I see my role as being to come in to spirng training and show them what I can do," Bell said. "They always say I dont run from run from anybody, I dont back down from anybody. I go right after everybody," the reliever added. "I kind of feel like I just want to help the team out the best way I can." The Reds traded a catcher they no longer needed for a left-handed pitching prospect. Devin Mesoraco, their first-round draft pick in 2007, emerged as an everyday catcher last season when Hanigan was hurt. Mesoraco played in a career-high 103 games, batting .238 with nine homers and 42 RBIs. Hanigan was on the disabled list twice and batted only .198 with two homers and 21 RBIs in 75 games. Hanigan caught both of Homer Baileys no-hitters in the last two seasons. The 33-year-old became expendable when the Reds decided after the season that they would make Mesoraco the starter. They signed catcher Brayan Pena to a two-year deal for $2,275,000, giving them a backup for Mesoraco. "Devin Mesoraco will have the opportunity to become a front-line catcher for us," general manager Walt Jocketty said. "Holmberg provides us with the quality pitching depth that every team needs." The 22-year-old lefty was a Southern League All-Star last season. He went 5-8 with a 2.75 ERA for Double-A Mobile, striking out 116 in 157 1-3 innings. He made his big league debut for Arizona against San Diego on Aug. 27. Holmberg was drafted by the White Sox in the second round in 2009 and was traded to Arizona with right-hander Daniel Hudson in the deal for right-hander Edwin Jackson on July 30, 2010. 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