Even with his team off to a solid start, Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock knows they can play better - especially if Pavel Datsyuk and Stephen Weiss remain healthy.
The newly paired linemates look to help the visiting Red Wings to a third straight victory Friday night against the New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. pregame, 7:30 face-off on FOX Sports Detroit).
Back from a four-game absence due to a sore groin, Datsyuk scored twice and Weiss added his third in two games to help Detroit (12-5-5) win for the fourth time in five games, 5-2 over Philadelphia on Wednesday.
"Like I keep trying to tell them every day, I think we have a chance to become a good team," Babcock told the club's official website. "We're not there yet by any means, but we have a chance to keep getting better.
"I know they don't hand anything out 22 games into it."
Babcock is hoping the Wings can continue to fare well with Datsyuk and Weiss back on the ice and playing together alongside fellow veteran Darren Helm. Together for the first time Wednesday, their line recorded three goals and three assists.
"(Datsyuk) can put the puck in the net. He was fun to play with," Weiss said. "Helmer and I are trying to hang on to him as long as we can."
Though Datsyuk has been plagued by shoulder and groin injuries, he has seven goals and six assists in the 11 games he's played.
"When you (come back) after missing as many games it's more important that your partners help," Datsyuk said.
Weiss, meanwhile, missed 19 of the first 20 games with injuries before returning with two goals in Monday's 4-2 victory over Ottawa. He also added an assist against the Flyers.
"I think he can be a great addition for us, once his gets his confidence and he gets his game shape," said Jimmy Howard, who stopped 22 shots Wednesday. "Right now it's baby steps for him, but he's doing a great job for us. Hopefully he can keep going."
Detroit has scored four goals or more four times over the last five contests, and totaled 11 while winning its last two versus New Jersey (9-10-3) without Datsyuk and Weiss in the lineup. Helm had an assist in the Red Wings' 4-2 victory over the Devils on Nov. 7.
Datsyuk tweaked his groin during the morning skate prior to that contest.
New Jersey's Cory Schneider was pulled from that game after allowing all four goals on 24 shots over the first two periods. He has a 5.28 goals-against average during a three-game skid versus Detroit.
Schneider made 34 saves Tuesday as the Devils fell 2-0 at Vancouver to conclude a 1-2-1 trip. He stopped Shawn Matthias on a breakaway in the third period, but the rebound went in off the skate of Devils defenseman Marek Zidlicky.
"That's kind of how it's been a little bit this year," Schneider said.
New Jersey, which ranks near the bottom of the league with an average of 2.36 goals, was blanked for only the second time while being held to 20 shots against the Canucks.
Jaromir Jagr has a team-leading 13 points but only one in the last six games.
