Red Wings 1-7-15

Red Wings (from left) Henrik Zetterberg, Justin Abdelkader, Pavel Datsyuk, Gustav Nyquist and Niklas Kronwall have had more to celebrate the first half of this season than last year.

(The Associated Press)

The Detroit Red Wings have virtually the exact same roster as they did a year ago, but as they passed the midway point of the season, their outlook appeared brighter.

The Red Wings (22-11-9) have 53 points through 42 games, one past the halfway mark. That's seven more points than they collected after the same number of games in 2013-14, when they were decimated by injuries and just trying to survive and make the playoffs.

This year, they've been relatively healthy. Their young players have continued to grow. Their special teams have excelled. And goaltender Jimmy Howard has rebounded from a mediocre season.

But now Howard is out, possibly for a month or longer, after suffering a groin injury in Saturday's 3-1 loss at Washington.

The Red Wings are five points behind the Eastern Conference-leading Tampa Bay Lightning, with two games in hand. They're on pace to top 100 points and have put themselves in good position to extend their playoff streak to 24 seasons.

But they can't afford a prolonged slump. Several teams behind them in the Eastern Conference - the New York Rangers, Boston and Florida - are gaining ground, and the red-hot Capitals have passed them (which only matters if they're competing for a wild-card spot).

"Overall, we have to be happy," general manager Ken Holland said. "We've had lots of positives.

"We're top five in the league in goals against. Jimmy Howard has had a great first half. I think our defense has played pretty well. (Gustav) Nyquist and (Tomas) Tatar look like they're on pace for 25-30 goals each if they can keep it going. We're top five in power play; we're top five in penalty killing.

"I think we've played ourselves in a position where we control our own fate."

Their best players, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, have had better luck with health after each was limited to 45 games last season. Young players Nyquist, Tatar, Riley Sheahan and Danny DeKeyser haven't taken a step back like some feared. Justin Abdelkader is having a breakout season.

It's a faster, deeper team than it was a year ago.

"We feel we have a better team," coach Mike Babcock said. "Coming into the year we didn't know. They (doubters) were saying we couldn't make the playoffs. I'm not saying we are, but it sure looks like we're going in the right direction. Our young players are getting better and that's all you can ask."

Zetterberg said they are deeper and have been more consistent

"PK and goaltending have been outstanding so far," Zetterberg said. "I think the power play has gotten a little better lately. We've been doing a lot of great things, but still we can improve in a lot of areas as well."

They've gotten off to slow starts in many games and have been atrocious in shootouts (1-7).

"In the second half of the year hopefully we can find a way to win a few more shootouts since I'm sure we're going to be in more," Holland said.

The remaining schedule is another challenge, with 22 of 40 games on the road.

"Certainly the second half it's harder to get points," Holland said. "But I like where we're positioned."

Here are first-half grades. They're based on performance vs. expectations (mine).

Forwards

Justin Abdelkader (A): He's taken a huge step, playing like a power forward with 11 goals and 23 points. He does a little of everything.

Joakim Andersson (C+): Still a good penalty killer and has made significant improvement in plus-minus, but offense is non-existent (three assists).

Daniel Cleary (C): Hasn't gained traction when given the opportunity to play. Will continue to have difficulty cracking lineup.

Pavel Datsyuk (A): Has missed 11 games, but has excelled at both ends of the ice, averaging a point a game and looking like a Selke Trophy candidate again.

Johan Franzen (C-): Got off to a good start, but once again has experienced a long stretch with little impact. He's never been a minus player but is minus-12 this season. He's out indefinitely with a head injury.

Luke Glendening (B): Continues to grow as a gritty, agitating fourth-line center and penalty killer and has improved markedly on faceoffs (56 percent).

Darren Helm (B): Consistency has been lacking but he's on pace for his best offensive output while shuffling back and forth from center to wing, and he's been outstanding in the faceoff circle (58 percent).

Tomas Jurco (C+): Playing well without the puck but needs to cash in on chances, with just two goals in 37 games. He's out with a back injury.

Drew Miller (B): Once again the team's best penalty-killing forward, provides energy and has made big improvement in plus-minus, but not chipping in as much offensively.

Gustav Nyquist (A-): He's showing that last season wasn't an aberration with another productive year.

Riley Sheahan (B+): Has developed rapidly enough as a two-way player that he's trusted to be the second-line center. Plays net-front role on second power-play unit.

Tomas Tatar (A-): Like Nyquist, he's followed up a breakout season with another productive year. Just needs to cut down on turnovers.

Stephen Weiss (B-): A healthy scratch early, he's made decent strides and had a good stretch when he returned from a groin injury (10 points in 10 games). Needs to play in top nine, not on the fourth line, to maximize his offensive ability.

Henrik Zetterberg (A-): Bounced back nicely from back surgery that caused him to miss two months last season. Leads team with 36 points.

Defensemen

Danny DeKeyser (B+): He's been steady again defensively, moving the puck quickly and efficiently. Has made some improvement offensively while playing on second power-play unit.

Jonathan Ericsson (C): An inconsistent first half for big defenseman who's committed too many turnovers and hasn't been sharp. Could still be dealing with issues from last season's hand injury.

Jakub Kindl (C): His lack of competitiveness has made him a healthy scratch in several games and puts his future with the organization in doubt.

Niklas Kronwall (B+): He remains an invaluable workhorse, doing everything for the team (offense, defense, power play, penalty kill) while leading in ice time.

Brian Lashoff (B-): Injuries enabled him to play 75 games last season but has appeared in only 11 games this year as he's fallen behind Xavier Ouellet in pecking order.

Xavier Ouellet (B): He looks more impressive each time he's called up. Plays with poise and confidence, makes a good first pass and doesn't make many mistakes.

Kyle Quincey (B): An effective stay-at-home defender who has limited his mistakes and formed solid No. 2 pairing with DeKeyser. He's the most physical presence on a blue line that doesn't hit much.

Brendan Smith (B): He's been fairly steady, but there's definitely another level to his game that hasn't been tapped yet.

Goaltenders

Jonas Gustavsson (Inc.): The oft-injured backup was stellar in a 1-0 win over Toronto but appeared in just three games before dislocating shoulder. He should return soon.

Jimmy Howard (A-): Was having a nice bounce-back season before his injury, among the league leaders with a 2.11 GAA. Only negative is his 0-6 shootout record.

Petr Mrazek (B): Gaining valuable NHL experience during infrequent appearances. Reliable when called upon and team has confidence in him. Now it appears he'll be carrying the load for a while.

Coaching

Mike Babcock and staff (A-): Babcock again maximizing team's ability while new assistants Jim Hiller (power play) and Tony Granato (defensemen, penalty kill) have made impact and goaltending coach Jim Bedard has helped Howard and Mrazek progress.

-- Download the Detroit Red Wings on MLive app for iPhone and Android

-- Follow Ansar Khan and Brendan Savage on Twitter

-- Like MLive's Detroit Red Wings Facebook page