Of Red Wings-related note this afternoon:
1. Here’s the Wings’ Game Day Preview video ahead of tonight’s game against the Minnesota Wild:
Entering Sunday night’s game against the Minnesota Wild at XCel Energy Center, the Wings had averaged 2.58 goals-per-game, fifth lowest in the NHL. Larkin had a team-leading 47 points in 64 games (including a team-high 38 assists) while Mantha had a team-leading 21 goals). Mantha has played most of the season with Henrik Zetterberg, who excels at using his body to protect the puck. Larkin demands a faster pace from his wingers.
“It’s a different game than playing with Z,” Mantha said. “Dylan is going to take the puck north right away, as quick as he can. You need to get on the horse and try to follow. He creates a lot offensively — I mean, he has those skills to bring the puck to the net and there’s going to be rebounds laying around, so I just need to be net-front and do a couple plays with him.”
Mantha, 6-foot-5 and 220-odd pounds, is at his most effective when he really skates.
“The focus, number one, is to get moving, skate as much as I can, get open,” Mantha said. “We have Abby also that likes to be around the net. So put a lot of shots on net and try to get those rebounds in there.”
St. James also posted a video of Larkin and Mantha discussing each other’s assets:
Ericsson expected to return after missing one game due to illness. | #DETvsMIN#LGRW
More: https://t.co/7FQIkxdA3qpic.twitter.com/BKeOucyQWU
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 4, 2018
