The Red Wings enter the playoffs with their usual status as contenders but have questions about the health of star player Henrik Zetterberg, their ability to bring it consistently and their goaltending.

However, if the Red Wings are to advance to the Stanley Cup finals for the third time in four seasons and win it for the second time in four seasons, it’ll be because of their improved ability to finish in close games.

The Wings have made it to the playoffs for nearly two straight decades and would figure to have an advantage, since last year’s struggles of not making the most of their chances are behind them this season.

Last season, the Wings saw their Cup hopes smashed by the San Jose Sharks in the second round. The Wings’ only win was by a 7-1 score in Game 4.

The Wings have proven that they can blow teams out when they have the opportunity, but better depth and rest makes them seem better suited this season to compete in one-goal games.

This year the Red Wings have done decently in one-goal games, winning 16 of 28, but recently have performed well in a one-goal win against Nashville on April 2 that came on the heels of a 10-3 drubbing by St. Louis and against Chicago on April 10 after another embarrassing home loss.

The Wings’s superior scoring depth compared to last season is a big reason why they’re positioned to go further — thanks to the additions of forwards Jiri Hudler and Mike Modano and the continued impressiveness of grind line players such as Darren Helm (12 goals), Patrick Eaves (13 goals) and Drew Miller (10 goals) — and gives them as much scoring depth as any other team.

Additionally, other factors, such as last year’s longer offseason than previous seasons — which allowed old players like Nicklas Lidstrom and Tomas Holmstrom to rest up — and more experience for goaltender Jimmy Howard, will help once the playoffs begin.

The Wings will look for more consistency from the defense, which boasts talent but finished with the eighth-worst goals-against this season, as well as in the net, where Howard will try to improve upon last season’s performance. But all-in-all, this looks like a team that has the ability to go to the conference finals — and further — if it can crank up the intensity dial to another level.

With contenders such as Vancouver, San Jose and Washington still searching for their breakthrough run and strong lower-seeds throughout, this year’s playoffs offer great unpredictability, but the Red Wings’ experience and depth give them as much of a shot as anyone in what will be an enjoyable couple of months.

Jeff Kanan is a State News sports reporter. He can be reached at kananjef@msu.edu.