Red Wings lineup vs. Bruins: Top young forwards get a chance to shine

GROSSE POINTE WOODS – Three of the Detroit Red Wings' top young forwards will combine to form their first line tonight in a preseason game against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden (7 p.m. ET, no local TV or radio).

Dylan Larkin will center a unit with Andreas Athanasiou and Anthony Mantha.

"I'm not sure what the lineup looks like for Boston, most likely a lot of American League guys, so (Larkin's line) should go in and be really good if they're the types of players we think they are," coach Jeff Blashill said. "Lots of speed and skill on that line. In the Red and White game (Sunday) they made mistakes that ended up in our net, so they got to eliminate those. But if they create more positives than negatives, that's what you're looking for. So is that more positives in terms of chances for and against or more positives in terms of goals? It's hard to dig your way out of lots of goals, but they're a line that has that kind of talent that can do it."

It's a big preseason for Mantha, who's battling a numbers game in an effort to earn a spot on the season-opening roster.

"It's going to be awesome," Mantha said. "We had a little exhibition game, Red and White, trying to get chemistry going. I've played with AA in the past few years, I know what we're able to do, and then you add a great player like Larkin."

The Red Wings hope Larkin makes a smooth transition to playing center full-time.

"He just needs to bear down on faceoffs and try to win those so we can start with the puck," Mantha said. "That's the biggest thing about being center. And in our D zone he's so quick, he's going to be able to get the puck and join the rush."

The line must be responsible defensively.

"If we hold onto the puck and create plays offensively, it's going to be hard for the other team to get anything out there," Mantha said. "For sure it's something (Blashill) wants us to bear down on and he just wants us to be good two-way guys and try to get something going offensively."