Detroit Red Wings: The Top Line Continues to Thrive

The top line for the Detroit Red Wings started the new season off just as hot as they finished last season. It’s an excellent sign for the organization.

The number one line decided to start the NHL season off with a bang, on the road in Nashville edging a Preds team that will be a Stanley Cup contender when it’s all said and done. The Detroit Red Wings aren’t expected to make much noise this season, but they opened some eyes in their first game of the season.

The Detroit Red Wings’ brass decided to trek on for a second straight season without naming a team captain. Since an unfortunate persistent back-injury forced Henrik Zetterberg‘s hand, before the start of last season, signaling the end of his playing days, the team decided to roll with four alternate captains. It’s much of the same this season under the direction of Steve Yzerman.

Dylan Larkin is the ‘captain in waiting’ anchoring the teams’ top line. He’s a ‘do it all’ forward for the Detroit Red Wings. Along with being the most dynamic playmaker on the team, he’s the Wings top scoring threat, he kills penalties and is the focal point on the teams’ top power-play.

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Last night the Wings top line accumulated 9 total points. It was a colossal opening night for the top unit. The ultimate workhorse Tyler Bertuzzi led the way with 4 points. He scored a pair and added a couple of assists. Anthony Mantha chipped in with 3 points, a goal and 2 helpers. Dylan Larkin notched 2 points, a goal, and an assist. The unit also combined for a plus 11 rating on the night.

This is a fascinating stat. The Detroit Red Wings have beaten the Nashville Predators 10 of the last 11 times that the two teams have squared off. It’s a pretty impressive stat when you consider the Detroit Red Wings are currently going through a rebuild, and the Preds are Cup contenders over the last couple of seasons.

Tonight in the Wings home opener, they are expected to get their speedy, dynamic second-line scoring threat, Andreas Athanasiou, back. Former Detroit Red Wings executive Jim Nill returns with his Dallas Stars squad tonight.

Jimmy Howard was very rock-solid last night, but in back to back games to open the season, it’s likely Jonathan Bernier in the cage tonight for Detroit. The Wings will probably roll with more of a 60/40 split in goal this season rather than the 70/30 of the past.

The top line in Detroit should have plenty of energy once again tonight in front of what’s expected to be a ruckus crowd on opening night in Detroit. Coming off of a game last night, I expect the Wings to start fast. The hope is that the Wings don’t run out of gas in the third period. After playing yesterday, sometimes the legs get heavy as the game wears on.

The winless Dallas Stars (0-2) come into Detroit in hopes of spoiling the party.