DETROIT — After scoring two goals to help the Stanley Cup champion Red Wings beat San Jose, Henrik Zetterberg insisted the Sharks are still the team to beat.

"They're ahead of us," Zetterberg said. "You can't live in the past."

While the NHL-leading Sharks have a three-point lead over Detroit in the Western Conference, the Red Wings dominated the final regular-season game between the teams, winning 4-1 on Wednesday night. Both teams won twice at home in the four-game season series, seemingly making home-ice advantage even more vital.

"I guess the race from now to the end of the year is important," said San Jose coach Todd McLellan, an assistant last season in Detroit.

If Zetterberg — who had a spectacular short-handed goal and a crafty power-play score — and the Red Wings play like they did against San Jose, it might not matter where they are or what other team is on the ice.

Detroit's Marian Hossa scored the first goal of the game, but the team held him out of the third period for precautionary reasons because of concussion-like symptoms.

"He's fine," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "(Douglas) Murray was coming from the front and pushed him and (Ryane) Clowe was coming the other direction and he didn't see Clowe and got fouled up with his stick."

Ville Leino also scored, and Ty Conklin made 34 saves for the Red Wings, winning his 12th straight home start. Evgeni Nabokov stopped 29 shots, and Christian Ehrhoff scored for the Sharks.

Zetterberg whiffed on an opportunity to give Detroit a two-goal lead in the first period, but he made up for it — twice.