Red Wings to switch up lines in hopes of getting more offense

0
369

The Detroit Red Wings may have finally found some positives in their recent 3-1 victory at home over the Toronto Maple Leafs, but it wasn’t exactly an exclamation point. They went 2-1-2 on their five-game home stand, including overtime losses to divisional opponents, Boston and Florida.

Among the struggles the team has been experiencing have been the droughts from forwards Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou. In order to get a spark from Athanasiou, head coach Jeff Blashill decided to switch him and Mantha in the lineup, and that’s how they’ll start their next game.

Mantha has gone six games without a point, and has scored only two goals with one assist, (including a minus-9 plus/minus rating) in his past 13 games.

“We just want to make sure we’re rewarding guys when they’re doing it right and I thought (Athanasiou) did it right, especially the second and third periods (in Friday’s 3-1 win over Toronto),” Blashill said. “And when guys don’t do it right, sometimes they need a little bit of a reminder that they have to do it right shift in and shift out.

“We have to outwork our opponents, out-compete our opponents and out-detail them. I can’t play somebody that’s not doing those things ahead of people that are. When people don’t do that right, I got to make sure I’m playing the people that are doing that.”

http://gty.im/878710566

Mantha said he isn’t happy with how he’s played recently.

“I don’t think I’ve played the way I played earlier this season, not only point-wise, just in general,” Mantha said. “I think the last couple of games I had a couple of turnovers, which earlier in the season I didn’t really do. I need to bring back my game to a simple game and just make the right plays.”

Meanwhile, Athanasiou has recorded only two points (both assists) in his past 11 games, including a minus-11 rating.

“I know I’ll get my chances and eventually they’ll go in,” Athanasiou said. “Can’t really think about it, just be ready for the next game and if I get an opportunity, try to make the most of it.

“I hit two posts there and it stays out (on Friday). A lot of nights that goes in. There have been some tough breaks. But you just got to keep shooting when it’s not going in and eventually it will.”

BONUS CONTENT

In order to make up ground in the Eastern Conference standings and get back into contention for a playoff spot, the Red Wings will have their work cut out for them as they head on the road for four straight, starting with matchups against the Islanders and Flyers  on Tuesday (7 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit) and Wednesday (8 p.m., NBC Sports Network), respectively.

They’ll continue the stretch against the Bruins on the December 23 (1 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit, TSN) where they’ve lost eight straight. Finally, the trip will conclude on the December 27 against the Devils (7 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).