By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY
Gordie Howe is the only basis of comparison for Steve Yzerman in Detroit Red Wings history. These days Yzerman, 40, is performing at a Howe-like level.
Yzerman, awarded little playing time earlier in the season by new coach Mike Babcock, has a nine-game scoring streak during which he has tallied five goals and seven assists. More importantly to the Red Wings, however, he has looked world class again, threading passes through skates and showing accuracy with his shot

"He's gotten some ice time and he's playing as well for us as he has in the last four or five years," said Detroit general manager Ken Holland.

In the midst of this streak, Yzerman also had a shootout goal against Nashville's Tomas Vokoun.

Over the past three games, Yzerman is playing about 15 minutes per game, compared to earlier in the season when he was sometimes receiving just a few minutes of ice time.

The 12-points-in-nine-games pace would result in a 100-point season if projected out over 82 games. Howe produced his first 100-point season when he was 41.

"We drafted Steve Yzerman in 1983 and we are still watching him play 23 years later," said Detroit executive vice president Jim Devellano. "I think that says it all."

Instead of being a role player for the Red Wings going into the playoffs, Yzerman now looks like he could be a major contributor. "He's getting scoring chances every night," Holland said. "He's one of our best players."

Holland said no one should be surprised, "because Steve has the heart of a lion."

Holland remembers having a conversation with Yzerman last August about his performance at the Olympic evaluation camp.

"He was very excited because he thought he was skating as well as he had in the last three or four years," Holland said. "Then he got to training camp and it was non-stop aggravation with a groin injury and now I think he's finally healthy. ... [He] has confidence again."

Has Yzerman said anything to Holland about retiring or coming back after this season? "No, we've always talked about that in the summertime," Holland said. "At the conclusion of the season we will deal with that situation."