Mantha Back Ahead Of Schedule

Another day, another player back from the injured list. Forward Darren Helm returned to the Detroit Red Wings lineup for Wednesday’s 5-3 loss to the Calgary Flames following a six-week absence due to a shoulder separation. Now, the team will welcome the return of right-winger Anthony Mantha, out since breaking his finger in a fight in a Dec. 2 game against the Colorado Avalanche, for Friday's game with the Nashville Predators. “We expect Mantha to be in the lineup tomorrow,… Wings coach Jeff Blashill confirmed to Mlive.com. Mantha has missed 15 games. The Wings went 3-8-4 during Mantha’s absence. Mantha had tallied three goals and five points in the five games prior to his injury. “He was playing excellent before he got injured,… Blashill said. “He was playing great hockey, he was a big man, he was shooting the puck, the things that I think he needs to do to be successful. He was moving his feet on a fairly consistent basis, he was pretty consistent in his effort defensively and if he does those things, he’s a really good hockey player.… Mantha will be inserted on to a line with Frans Nielsen and Thomas Vanek, which the Wings hope will hold a twofold purpose. One, it will get Mantha flowing quickly back into his offensive skill game, and secondly, it might help ignite Vanek from his offensive doldrums if he has a finisher to feed with the puck. Vanek has just two points, both of them goals, in his last eight games. “I want to get Mantha back up to speed,… Blashill said. “We’ve got some different thoughts and one of them is to put him with Thomas and Fransy in the sense that it gives them a real talented player for Thomas to make some of his offensive plays to. It gives some speed on the line. When Mantha’s really skating, he’s fast, so it allows a little bit more speed. “We’ll see where that goes.… Mantha is actually ahead of schedule in his return to action, and the Wings, who are in the midst of a 2-8-3 slide, will take any sort of positive reinforcement they can latch on to at this stage of the season. “It’s exciting,… Mantha said. “I had a seven-day timeline a couple days ago and the finger has just been feeling better, so the doctor gave me the green light last night. I just can’t wait to be back.… Even though he hasn’t played in over a month, Mantha’s nine goals still leave him tied for fourth on the team. Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer