The Red Wings are six games above NHL .500 (27-21-5) and with 59 points, are only one point from third-place Ottawa in the Atlantic Division.

With an overtime win in Vancouver and a successful western Canada swing, the Red Wings are firmly back in the Eastern Conference race.

Yzerman made the move to fire Derek Lalonde and associate head coach Bob Boughner on Dec. 26. At the time, the Red Wings were 13-17-4 and just two points out of eighth place — last place — in the Atlantic Division. Now, 19 games later, the Wings are up to fourth in the Atlantic and currently in a wild card spot.