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(Sports Network) - The Detroit Red Wings are making a strong push for the playoffs, but the perennial postseason participants still have a long way to go if they want to catch the Chicago Blackhawks, who'll be hosting their longtime Central Division rival this afternoon at the United Center.

Although they're certainly no guarantee to be making a 19th consecutive playoff trip, the reigning Western Conference champion Red Wings have enhanced their chances by winning three of their last four games. That surge has placed Detroit into the eighth and final postseason seed in the West at the moment, one point in front of Calgary.

The Red Wings stayed in front of the Flames with Friday's big 5-2 victory over fellow Central member Nashville at Joe Louis Arena. Darren Helm led the offense with a pair of goals, while Pavel Datsyuk scored once and assisted on another to help Detroit bounce back from a 6-3 home defeat to Vancouver on Wednesday.

"These are extremely important games for us now," said Helm after Friday's win. "Coming out flat like we did [against] Vancouver is not acceptable. [This] was a lot better effort by us."

Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Holmstrom also had goals for Detroit, while goaltender Jimmy Howard needed to make only 20 saves to record his 23rd win of the season.

The Red Wings will now focus on attempting to beat the Blackhawks, a task that has proven rather difficult as of late. Chicago has bested Detroit in five of the last six matchups between the Original Six foes, including three of four meetings this season, and the Red Wings have been shut out in each of their past two visits to the Windy City.

Chicago also blanked the Wings by a 3-0 count in Detroit on December 23 behind a 33-save effort out of goaltender Antti Niemi.

The Blackhawks' offense was the difference in their most recent outing, when the Central Division leaders erupted for five first-period goals en route to a 6-3 triumph over visiting Vancouver on Friday.

Andrew Ladd, Duncan Keith, Troy Brouwer, Kris Versteeg and Jordan Hendry all lit the lamp in the opening session as Chicago won for the second straight game and sixth time in its last seven tilts. The Blackhawks began this current four-game homestand with a 5-2 decision over Edmonton on Wednesday.

"They carried the play in the first period," said Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo. "They came out strong and that was pretty much the game."

Patrick Kane assisted on Hendry's tally to extend his scoring streak to eight games, with the United States Olympian amassing four goals and eight helpers during that stretch. Keith has a goal and five assists over a five-game point streak.

Chicago begins today's play two points behind San Jose for the Western Conference lead with 91 points and is 16 points ahead of second-place Nashville in the Central standings. Detroit is three points back of the Predators in the division race.