5 Stats That Are a Reason for Optimism for 2014-15 Detroit Red Wings

Despite the Detroit Red Wings' recent three-game skid, there is plenty of reason for optimism among Red Wings fans going forward.

The NHL schedule is often grueling, and the Wings recently felt the effects of three games in four nights, going 0-1-2 in that span. But amid the Red Wings apparent struggles are a few key statistics that have been keeping them in a playoff position early in 2014-15.

Here are five stats that are a reason for optimism among Detroit Red Wings fans early in 2014-15.

Only 3 Regulation Losses in 13 Games Played

One can look all day at extremely detailed statistics like Corsi, Fenwick and anything else of the sort, but without a doubt, the most important statistic for an NHL team is points in the standings.

The Red Wings have played 13 contests coming into Friday night's game against the New Jersey Devils and have picked up points in 10 of those 13 games.

Though Red Wings fans are accustomed to seeing Detroit come out on top of the opposition on more nights than not, the fact of the matter is that one point (an overtime or shootout loss) is better than no points in the standings.

Detroit just needs to keep its collective compete level up (something that can't be quantified in a statistic) and continue to find ways to pick up points in games.

Power Play Is Increasing in Proficiency

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

The Red Wings were limping along on the power play with just two goals through their first eight contests, but over the last five games, Detroit has five power-play goals.

Gustav Nyquist has four of the team's seven goals with the man advantage, but Tomas Tatar and Jakub Kindl both scored on the power play in the loss to the Rangers on Wednesday night.

Though the Wings' efforts with the extra man are still abysmal by league standards at 13.7 percent (ranked 25th among the NHL), it looks like the goals are finally starting to come on a more regular basis.

If Detroit can get its power play percentage back up close to 20 percent, the Wings will be competitive on more nights than not and will not have to worry about that half of the special teams performing.

Increasing Offensive Production from Non-Top Line Members

Gary Wiepert/Associated Press

It is the second consecutive season that the Red Wings have had a real problem generating any offense at all from the second, third and fourth lines. Those problems seem to be going away to some extent, as more players are contributing for Detroit.

Despite the three-game slide, two players (Dan Cleary and Jakub Kindl) scored their first goals of the season in the loss to the New York Rangers.

Good teams find ways to get offense from every nook and cranny, and that's what the Red Wings are going to have to do for the rest of the season if they are looking to compete in what would be Detroit's 24th straight trip to the playoffs.

It is always easier to get players going offensively earlier in the season, and it looks like Detroit is getting the job done in that area.

5-on-5 Goal Ratio of 1.21-1

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

Any time that a team can be in the top 10 (or eighth overall in the case of Detroit) for five-on-five goals, there is a good chance that the team will win more games than it loses.

The Wings are eighth in the NHL for five-on-five goals for to goals against with a 1.21-1 ratio.

With the aforementioned power play getting better, and Detroit's penalty kill, which is still killing almost 89 percent of penalties, performing admirably, the Wings are in a good spot as far as goals for to goals against.

If Detroit's goal is to sustain that ratio for the entirety of the season, role players will have to continue to chip in offensively.

Jimmy Howard's Numbers

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

Don't be mistaken—Jimmy Howard has had some help in turning his numbers around this season.

Note the "some" help.

But Howard has, once again, single-handedly kept his team in some games this season. In his most recent start against the Ottawa Senators, Howard stopped all 16 shots in the first period, as the Wings were outshot 16-2 in the opening frame.

Detroit never really found its groove offensively and ended up losing 3-1 (including an empty-net marker). Howard was the third star of the game, but if the game had been played in Detroit, he could—and probably would—have been named second or even first star.

Howard has generally been great this season, with a 5-2-3 record, a 1.96 GAA and a .928 save percentage. He does not have any shutouts but has only surrendered more than two goals on two of his 10 starts so far this season.

If Howard keeps up this play all season, he will give Detroit a great chance to make the playoffs and also get past the first round in 2015.