Pavel Datsyuk-12-4-14

The Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk has recorded two points in each of the past three games.

(Mike Mulholland/MLive.com)

DETROIT - The Detroit Red Wings' new wave of talented, young players is still learning what it takes to be an every-day pro.

There has been no better teacher than Pavel Datsyuk.

"As a young guy, when you see guys like that working that hard, all of us young guys want to become half a player that they are one day," Gustav Nyquist said. "It's no secret why they're good, and there are no shortcuts you can take to getting there."

Age and injuries haven't slowed down Datsyuk. The all-around wizard looks as dominant this season as he did in his prime.

Datsyuk has 11 goals and 19 points in just 15 games. He has three consecutive multi-point games heading into Saturday's contest against the New York Rangers at Joe Louis Arena (7 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).

"Pav is Pav," Niklas Kronwall said. "I don't know how you explain it, really. When he goes out there feeling good, he's one of the best in the league. And he shows it night after night."

Datsyuk, 36, missed four weeks after suffering a separated shoulder in the preseason opener. He recorded points in six consecutive games upon his return.

He sat out four games in a row and six-of-eight with a pulled groin, then scored two goals in his first game back on Nov. 28.

"That's Pav," goaltender Jimmy Howard said. "He's so gifted, he's so talented that he's able to take a week off and most guys would need a couple of games to get the rust off but he's out there and looks like normal Pav."

This much hasn't been normal: For the first time in his 12-year career he is scoring more goals than he is setting up. He's not shooting more, but more pucks are finding the net (26.8 percent shooting percentage).

"He's been on fire," Henrik Zetterberg said. "Not just production, but overall the way he plays out there, offensively, defensively. Eleven goals in 15 games is pretty impressive."

Said Howard: "He's got great hockey sense. He just puts himself in great spots to succeed. He thinks the game differently than anyone."

Datsyuk is producing with and without Zetterberg as a linemate. He has played the past couple of games with Tomas Tatar and Darren Helm. He has played on the second power-play unit with Stephen Weiss and Riley Sheahan.

Whoever plays with Datsyuk reaps the benefits.

"I haven't been able to play with anyone like that in my career before," Weiss said. "He's amazing. He's just so talented and seems to not miss a beat.

"He's a special guy. It's not easy to do, miss a couple weeks and come back and produce like that; pretty amazing player."

Datsyuk, as is the norm, defers all talk about his own performance, preferring to focus on the team.

"We stick together and play together, that's more important," Datsyuk said. "I appreciate (his linemates); they help me a lot, they give me lots of confidence."

As pleased as he is to be producing at more than a point per game, Datsyuk still is committed to the qualities that made him a three-time Selke Trophy winner as the league's top defensive forward.

"First priority is defense," Datsyuk said. "More defense, more offense. When we play more defense it's better for us."

That's a tremendous lesson for young players.

"He's a special player," Nyquist said. "He plays the game at both ends of the ice very well. Always wins pucks. He's been playing unbelievable every time he's in the lineup, so it's great for us."

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