The Fan Hub

With the NHL season at the half-way point, the Detroit Red Wings have rebounded from a streaky first month of the season to regain their place in the upper echelon of the Western Conference. Through 41 games, the Wings are sitting atop the Central division with 53 points, and are just two points shy of Vancouver for the top spot in the conference with two games in hand.

Much of that resurgence is due to the play of top-line center Pavel Datsyuk, who has rebounded from a slow start to compile 43 points at this point playing between wingers Johan Franzen and Todd Bertuzzi. It’s certainly not a coincidence that the Red Wings’ consistency returned when Datsyuk found his game, and just imagine what heights they can reach if Henrik Zetterberg can regain his old form as well.

Meanwhile, the defensive corps is still one of the best in the league thanks in large part to the ageless Nicklas Lidstrom, who at 41 years old is still playing nearly 24 minutes per game and has his usual spot among the league leaders in plus/minus and points for a defenseman. Lidstrom is the anchor of the unit that has allowed the third fewest shots per game in the entire league, and a major reason why goaltender Jimmy Howard is leading the league in wins, with a GAA and SV% that are good enough for a top-10 ranking, thus making him a midseason candidate for the Vezina Trophy.