After another impressive victory for the streaking Detroit Red Wings, the most promising sign was the play of Dominik Hasek.

Now, let’s pause. Find that No.2 pencil and a piece of paper because it’s time for an short quiz that will really have you thinking.

“When was the last time Hasek had a three game stretch posting a 0-3 record and a 4.26 goals-against-average?” Maybe an even better question, “When was the last time Hasek went almost two weeks between starts and it had nothing to do with an injury?”

Alright, pencils down. This isn’t a trick question. If you were thought this question was really about Bob Essensa, you were close, but no cigar.

The answer is Nov. 13 – Dec. 4.

After a disappointing season through November, plagued by injuries and inconsistency, Hasek resembled the netminder who carried the Wings through three playoff rounds last spring with his play against the Canadiens Tuesday night.

Allowing just one goal on 16 shots against Montreal Tuesday, Hasek showed flashes of his ability to make big saves when called upon.

Fans hope this is a sign of things to come, because lets face it, Detroit has the potential to have the most potent one-two goaltending punch in the NHL.

How many teams have the luxury of playing a goaltender that’s supposed to be their backup and yet has a league-leading 1.79 goals-against-average?

Right now, just one.

But for Red Wings sake, they need a much stronger 2008 from Hasek if they expect to be contenders in the spring. With a sudden decline in performance with a player in his 40s, the question “has he hung on one year too long?” always comes about.

However, if there’s one thing Hasek has taught the Red Wing faithful the past six seasons, it’s to never count him out.

Mike Morland is a writer for LetsGoWings.com, the University Record, and the Michigan Journal. He can be heard every Tuesday from 2:30-4:00pm on WUMD's (www.wumd.org) sports talk show "The Upper Deck." Guest appearances include 88.3 WCBN-Ann Arbor and 89.3 WHFR-Dearborn.