Red Wings face 'one burning question' as halfway mark to this season approaches

Not a lot of people could've predicted that the Detroit Red Wings would be at the top of the Atlantic Division as we near the NHL holiday break, but that's exactly what's happening.

Yes, the parity in the Eastern Conference has reached new heights, with all teams but one playing at .500 or more, but the Wings boast an impressive 21-13-3 record, which is quite impressive, especially considering that four rookies made their NHL debut this season.

But there's a big question still in the air surrounding the team ahead of the second half of the regular calendar.

Detroit hasn't seen any playoff action from the Red Wings in the last decade, but with the team's performances this season, a lot of people believe that tough stretch could finally come to an end.

For that to happen, the Wings will need to do one thing: keep it up.

So the big question is: can they?

It's hard to predict what will happen this year in the NHL. With the condensed schedule and the parity, no one knows what the standings will look like months, weeks, or even days from now.

Also, the Red Wings have shown flaws in bringing their A-game every night. Whether it's the forwards, the defensemen, or the goalies, there have been a few games where one of these areas struggled.

In addition, the team has been generally lucky with injuries so far, managing to avoid long-term absences, but it could happen any time. If Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, John Gibson, or Dylan Larkin end up missing several games, it could be harder for the team to reach their playoff goals.

It'll be very interesting to see how the rest of the season will go down.

Make sure to stay tuned for all the latest developments regarding the Wings and their playoff aspirations, as well as the tight race in the Atlantic Division.