Bertuzzi, Larkin and Mantha continue to produce for the Detroit Red Wings

By Damon Knight

With only two games into the start of the regular season, the Detroit Red Wings are on a two game winning streak; as their top line of Bertuzzi, Larkin and Mantha continue to produce. In those games, Mantha has seven points (five goals, two assists), Bertuzzi five points (two goals, three assists) and Larkin four points (one goal, three assists). That’s a total of 16 points combined. In addition to that, they have eight of Detroit’s nine goals this season, and 16 of the team’s 25 points, from the end of last year. Red Wings Center, Dylan Larkin said, 

  “When all three of us are moving and connecting, it’s a lot of fun, and you saw what that could be like the last stretch of last season,” Larkin said. “We’re going to try to hit the ground running as a line and hope to carry our team.”

   When asked about the team’s top line, Head coach Jeff Blashill responded,

  “Those guys are starting to come into their own a little bit.” Blashill said. When you are a top line, you got to be a top line every night. There’s a lot of pressure on that line, just like the (Patrice) Bergeron line (for Boston) and the (Nathan) Mackinnon line (for Colorado), you got to perform at a high level every night. You’re given lots of ice time and with that comes the burden of making sure you play great every night. They have to be one of the elite lines in the league.” 

Tyler Bertuzzi said, “We’re here for this season and trying to prove people wrong and we have to have a good start,” Bertuzzi said. Furthermore, the Wings and their top line will look to continue their elite level of play, as they will square off against the Anaheim Ducks at home on Tuesday night at 7:30 PM. GM Steve Yzerman said, “We want to be real humble and in the same breath be very, very hungry,” he said. “I thought our men did a great job of both (Saturday).”