The Winged Wheels are back on track. Or road. Or flying. Or wherever a “winged wheel” would be used. Either way, the Detroit Red Wings are playing hot and back into a playoff position standing firm as they try to repel the naysayers. The playoffs are on the horizon and as it stands now, the Red Wings are playing some of their best hockey of the season and are moving up the standings in the Western Conference.

Since returning from the Olympic break, the Wings are 8-2-1, including their most recent win against Cup champion Pittsburgh, whom they’ve faced in the two previous Stanley Cup Finals. As it stands now, Detroit is clinging to a two-point lead over the Calgary Flames for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. With four games against St. Louis, Minnesota, Edmonton and Columbus in their next five, things are looking good for the boys in Hockeytown.

Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk are back in true form. The two have combined for 11 points in the last five games. Detroit will rely on these two down the stretch to continue their hot play on the cold ice while they try to prove that the Detroit dynasty is as alive and strong as it’s ever been. Goalie Jimmy Howard has been lights out in his last five games. He’s allowed just nine goals in his last five games, winning four and losing in OT in the other one. That adds up to a ridiculous.932 save percentage and 1.8 GAA.

Despite their slight advantage over Calgary in the standings, Detroit is four points out of a share of fifth place. The Red Wings have been one of the biggest powerhouses in hockey for the last decade, and they have no intention of slowing down now. A lot of their core players from the Stanley Cup runs are still around, and that experience will pay off. All Detroit needs to do is squeeze in to the playoffs, and once that’s done, everything is wiped clean. When that happens, Detroit will once again be one of the most feared teams around.