DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings have had the best defenseman, four premier defensive forwards, three top coaches, four playoff most valuable players and one league MVP over the past 45 years.

They've had players recognized for sportsmanship, perseverance and dedication to hockey.

But they have not had the NHL's rookie of the year since 1965, when Olympia Stadium was their home and there were six teams in the league.

Goaltender Jimmy Howard is making a strong bid to end that drought. His Calder Trophy stock is rising with every win.

Howard will make his 21st consecutive start Friday night, on his 26th birthday, at home against the Minnesota Wild as the Red Wings try to match a season-long four-game winning streak.

Arguably the club's MVP, Howard ranks in the top 10 among all goalies in save percentage (fourth at .924), goals-against average (sixth at 2.29) and wins (10th at 30).

Red Wings Steve Yzerman (1984), Sergei Fedorov (1991), Nicklas Lidstrom (1992) and Henrik Zetterberg (2003) came close to winning the Calder, finishing second. The last three Detroit players to win the award were goalies: Roger Crozier (1965), Glen Hall (1956) and Terry Sawchuk (1951).

Howard has an excellent chance to at least be one of three finalists, along with Buffalo Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers and Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene.

"That's secondary,'' Howard said. "I'm not saying I wouldn't like to win it, because I definitely would love to win the Calder, but first and foremost is getting in the playoffs.''

If the Red Wings get in, it will be due in large part to Howard's performance. He grabbed the starting job from veteran Chris Osgood in mid-November and has run with it.

CALDER CANDIDATES The top five candidates for NHL rookie of the year:



Tyler Myers, Buffalo, D

• Pros: First in assists (32), blocked shots (122) and ice time (23:51), third in points (42) for rookies.



• Cons: Only two defensemen have won the award in past 20 years.



Jimmy Howard, Detroit, G

• Pros: Workhorse arguably is team MVP with 30 wins and among league leaders in goals-against average (2.29) and save percentage (.924).



• Cons: His age (26) might cost him some votes.



Matt Duchene, Colorado, C

• Pros: Leads rookies in goals (23) and points (50).



• Cons: Stats not overwhelming for a forward.



Tuukka Rask, Boston, G

• Pros: Leads all goalies in GAA (2.02) and save percentage (.930)



• Cons: Has made only 32 starts.



John Tavares, Islanders, LW

• Pros: Second among rookies in goals (21) and points (43).



• Cons: Minus-15 rating on non-playoff team.

"You can tell he's in a zone,'' Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. "He's playing with great confidence, he's got good positioning, he doesn't give up any bad rebounds. You try to help him out on the second chances, but he's very comfortable in net right now.''

Said Red Wings coach Mike Babcock: "Only time will tell if he can do it 10 years in a row. But he looks like he's a goalie and he battles, seems to have a real good attitude. When things don't go well for him, it just seems to be like water off a duck's back, and he's getting better.''

Howard's streak of starts is the longest for a Red Wings rookie goalie since Roy Edwards started 23 games in a row in 1967-68.

He is showing no signs of fatigue, physical or mental.

"When you're a kid and you're fresh, it's your first year in the league, it's not like you're going to get worn out, you just want to play,'' Babcock said. "When you're playing well, you just want to get in the net. It's fun. That's what's happening for Jimmy right now, and we're fortunate.''

The two-week Olympic break has helped keep Howard fresh.

"It breaks up that 20 games in a row, but he's playing solid for us,'' defenseman Brian Rafalski said. "He's keeping things simple. He's making the saves he has to and he's battling hard.''

For Howard, it's much easier to play every night, especially in high intensity games with so much on the line, than it would be to sit out every few games.

"People don't realize when you sit there for a while and then you come in and play, it's really difficult because it's a lot different than practicing,'' Howard said. "There's more traffic and pucks are moving around a little bit more.

"When you're out there and playing every day, it's a lot easier to get into a rhythm and keep going. Even if you let in a so-called goal you want back, it's easier to bounce back.''

Howard played 186 games over the past four seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Red Wings were patient with his development, and it has paid off.

"I think it helped being the No. 1 goalie and playing a lot of games (in the AHL). And now when he's got a chance to play a lot, he's really responding,'' Lidstrom said. "He's really grabbed that first spot for us.''

It was apparent long ago that the Red Wings would ride Howard into the playoffs. Osgood, whose last start was Jan. 27, doesn't like sitting, but he has been supportive of Howard.

"He's been great,'' Howard said. "A lot of relationships like this probably could have gone south, but he's such a great friend and a great goalie himself that there's a lot I can learn from him.''