Here are my picks for Red Wings’ stars of the week for 12/28 to 1/3. Three games this past week, and really great play in all of them, even with the one loss in Columbus.

#3: Pavel Datsyuk
It seems like he’s warming up, and hopefully getting on to the beginning of a goal scoring streak. The goal in Colorado was a beautiful snipe, and in Phoenix he got the first power play goal for the Wings in what felt like an eon.

#2: Jimmy Howard
Howard had one of the best games maybe of his career against Columbus. He played lights out in that game, and had Mason not also stood on his head, he would have gotten the win. He’s also had very strong games against Colorado and Phoenix, and ran together a string of 4 straight starts.

#1: Darren Helm
The sheer fact that he scored 3 goals in 2 consecutive games (empty netters aside), and 2 of them shorthanded, gives him the first star raking from me. He’s also been zipping around the ice, creating energy, and opportunities. His line with Draper and Eaves has been one of the best. If he can keep producing when some of the top line guys of Zetterberg and Cleary come back, the Wings will be in good shape with scoring all up and down the roster.

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