Anthony Mantha will be back in the Detroit Red Wings lineup when they visit the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday.
Detroit coach Jeff Blashill all but confirmed it to reporters following Tuesday’s practice at Joe Louis Arena.
“We’ll make final lineup decisions tomorrow but I look at Anthony to be back,… Blashill said.
In fact, had the Wings not played so well and won 4-2 Friday over the Chicago Blackhawks the night Blashill made Mantha a healthy scratch in order to get him to improve his work habits, it’s likely that the rookie right winger’s absence would have lasted just that game.
“I think he got the message after one game to be dead honest with you,… Blashill said. “I think he’s a great kid who wants to be better. Like everybody in life, there’s a learning process to everything. I think he has the message for sure and I think he’ll continue to work to become a better player and he’s going to have ups and downs and bumps in the road and everything that young players do. It’s just what happens.
“As him and I talked, when you come out of the lineup, you leave the door open to not go back in, and our team played very very good in Chicago and there was no way I was taking anybody out because of that.…
Mantha also wasn’t about to anoint himself as back but it was obvious even to him as he skated on a line with Frans Nielsen and Darren Helm in practice that he was in the plans for Wednesday.
“Not officially, but yeah, on the lines I’m back in the lineup,… Mantha said. “I am getting ready to play tomorrow.…
He might not like sitting out - no player would - but Mantha seems to understand what was behind his enforced rest.
“It’s just being more prepared to play in every game, every shift, to compete at a higher level,… Mantha said. “That’s the message they wanted to send me and that’s what I was thinking about when I was sitting out, so I’ll have to bring my A game tomorrow.…
Mantha tried not to take it personally but admitted it was a tough few days while he was left on the sideline to ponder his fate.
“Obviously there are plenty of questions that go through your head,… Mantha said. “There has to be an idea behind his (Blashill) decision and he talked to me about it, and for me it comes down to playing better in general.
“I’ll keep my head up. I’ll come back stronger than I was the last few games.
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