Sunday, after his team failed to win for the fifth straight game, Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill lamented their inability to get pucks and traffic to the other team’s net.
Monday, he moved to do something to change that situation.
The Wings have recalled forward Tyler Bertuzzi, the nephew of former Detroit forward Todd Bertuzzi, from AHL Grand Rapids and he will make his NHL debut Tuesday as the Wings play the Flyers in Philadelphia.
“He’s definitely a gritty player with a lot of skill,… said Detroit forward Andreas Athanasiou, who played with Bertuzzi in Grand Rapids. “He’s a good player all around.
“He’ll go in the corners and muck it up. He’s got that touch around the net as well.…
Call them dirty, call them greasy, whatever label you apply, the Wings haven’t been getting those types of goals since Thomas Vanek was injured. Is it mere coincidence that Detroit is 1-4-1 minus Vanek, who still shares the club goal scoring lead with four?
Blashill believes Bertuzzi possesses the sort of personality that he can help fill some of that void.
“That’s something that again, when he’s playing really well, and he’s done this for me, he’s done it for Nellie (Grand Rapids coach Todd Nelson), he’s a guy who finds a way to get greasy-type goals,… Blashill said. “He finds a way to get stick on puck, create turnovers, finds a way to go hard to the net. Sometimes it doesn’t look pretty but he’s got that in him.
“We need more of that and we’re hoping he can bring it to us tomorrow night.…
While excited to be in the show, Bertuzzi isn’t about to anoint himself as the solution to what ails the Wings.
“I just want to bring energy,… Bertuzzi said. “Play my game. Keep doing what I do, just bring energy. Block shots. Play good defensively and just take my chances when I get them.
“I was excited to get the call and I’m going to make the most I can out of this opportunity and just try and do my best.…
Whither Mantha? Right-winger Anthony Mantha, Detroit’s top pick in the 2013 NHL entry draft, leads Grand Rapids with seven goals in the nine games and people might rightly wonder what’s a guy got to do to get a recall?
It’s a fair question.
Here’s Blashill’s answer:
“I’ve had conversations with everyone involved that’s watched both, that’s watched the team,… Blashill explained. “They’re both playing excellent, both playing really good hockey.
“We think they’re both real good prospects, so as we talked about it, we discussed it last night and we just decided at this time we’re going to go with Bert. But they’re both in my mind doing what they need to do to make sure they’re ready for their opportunities.…
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