DETROIT -- The NHL season heads into the homestretch after today’s Olympic gold medal game between the United States and Canada.

This is usually when the Detroit Red Wings are jockeying for position atop the overall standings.

This year, they have more at stake during their final 21-game segment, which begins Monday in Colorado. For the first time in 20 years, the Red Wings are fighting for a playoff berth.

They are tied for ninth place in the Western Conference, one point out of the last playoff spot. Only seven points separate the seventh-place team from the 13th.

That will increase the intensity over the last quarter of the season. Red Wings games in March and early April will be more meaningful this season.

Some streaks are sure to end.

For the first time since 1999-2000, the Red Wings, who trail the Chicago Blackhawks by 19 points, won’t win the Central Division.

Extending their nine-year run of 100-point seasons will be extremely tough. It is highly unlikely they will earn home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs for the 18th consecutive season.

But they are in good position to extend their most important streak by reaching the playoffs for the 19th consecutive season.

Here are just a few reasons why the Red Wings are more than likely to make the playoffs again:

Health, schedule favorable

After losing many players -- including Johan Franzen, Henrik Zetterberg, Niklas Kronwall, Valtteri Filppula, Tomas Holmstrom and Jason Williams -- for extended periods over the first 61 games, the Red Wings are as healthy as they have been all season. Only forward Kirk Maltby, who will have shoulder surgery this week, is out.

And while the schedule is compressed -- 21 games in 42 days -- it is not daunting. They play 12 home games and have only one significant road trip (three games in Western Canada March 15-20). They play the two teams directly ahead of them, Nashville and Calgary, five times combined. They have five games combined against the two worst clubs in the West, Columbus and Edmonton.

Franzen provides offense

Johan Franzen will provide a significant boost to the offense. Playing three games before the break and four games in the Olympics should help Franzen, who tore a knee ligament in the third game of the season.

He has been one of the league’s premier goal-scorers, regular season and playoffs combined, since March 2008 and will be fresh and energized.

The power play will be better and coach Mike Babcock, whose team ranks 28th in the league in five-on-five goals, will have the ability to play star centers Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg on separate lines for better balance.

Datsyuk, Zetterberg are due

Both are well off their typical offensive pace.

Datsyuk, who has racked up 97 points in each of the past two seasons, has 17 goals and 49 points.

Zetterberg, who has scored more than 30 goals in four consecutive seasons, has 16 goals and 48 points.

Part of the decline can be attributed to the lack of skilled players surrounding them due to injuries. But regardless, they should be more productive.

Even playing on the same line for a good portion of the season hasn’t sparked them. They haven’t strung together a dominant stretch of games like they usually do several times a season. Now is their time to step up.

Lilja will help defense

Getting defenseman Andreas Lilja back is a bonus. It appeared he was done for the season, perhaps forced into early retirement, due to a concussion. But he will play his first game in 12 months on Monday.

Lilja was the club’s best shot-blocker before his injury. He will provide an element of size (6-foot-3, 228) and a physical presence. He should further boost the penalty-killing, which has improved over the last few months. And he’ll take some of the load off Brad Stuart, who has been worn down of late.

Lilja is not a skilled player, so it might not take him as long to regain his form. Having skating all season and played four games with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins will help.

Lilja likely will be a regular on the third pairing. Jonathan Ericsson, seemingly a fixture in the lineup at the start of the season, has struggled and will have to compete with Brett Lebda and Derek Meech for the sixth spot on defense.

Howard steps up in net

Goalie Jimmy Howard should continue to assert his role as the team’s top goalie.

Howard ranks sixth in the NHL in goals-against average (2.28) and fifth in save percentage (.927).

Howard is not your typical rookie. He’s 25 and has four full years of experience as the starter in Grand Rapids. He has started 23 of the past 25 games and has displayed the consistency he often lacked at the AHL level.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see Howard start 17 or 18 of the remaining games, as Babcock has used him on both ends of the last two back-to-back situations. Howard clearly is their playoff starter over the veteran Chris Osgood, who has played only 7 1/2 periods since Dec. 20.

The Red Wings are in for a battle, but they control their own fate. Their goal simply is to reach the postseason. And if they make it, given their playoff experience, this is the team nobody will want to draw in the first round.