Notes: Mantha gets green light to return to action

DETROIT -- The day that Red Wings forward Anthony Mantha has been aiming toward has arrived.
Out since injuring his hand in a fight against Colorado's Patrik Nemeth on Dec. 2, Mantha is set to return Friday when the Wings host the Nashville Predators.

"It's exciting," Mantha said after Friday's practice at the Belfor Training Center. "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."
Mantha said the doctor wanted him to be able to make a full fist, which he wasn't able to do when he was in the splint following surgery.
"I needed to get that motion back," Mantha said. "I got it way quicker than he thought. That's why he gave me the green light."
During Thursday's practice, Mantha skated on a line with Frans Nielsen and Thomas Vanek.
"I want to get Mantha back up to speed," Wings coach Jeff 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 him a real talented player for Thomas to make some of his offensive plays, too. 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 said he was excited about the opportunity to play with two gifted veterans.
"Obviously, they're two great players. They can pass the puck like nobody else in the league," Mantha said. "You just need to find the sweet spot, skate, be intense and Vanny is going to tag you, Nielsen is a great centerman also, he's pretty smart, too. Hopefully, I can fit in and bring some chemistry quick on that line."
LARKIN LINE CHANGES: Before Mantha got hurt, he was playing with Dylan Larkin.
Since that time, Larkin has primarily centered Justin Abdelkader and Gustav Nyquist.
On Thursday, Tyler Bertuzzi was with Larkin and Nyquist while Abdelkader skated with Luke Glendening and Darren Helm.
"Bert's a guy who can be a complement player to two skill guys like that," Blashill said. "He's a net-presence guy, he goes and gets pucks, he's very smart defensively, he does a really good job in those ways, he's skilled enough to finish and make a play. I think he can be a real complementary-type player in that situation."
Bertuzzi welcomed the chance for more ice time on the top line.
"Obviously it's something new, just kind of trying to find what's going to jell," Bertuzzi said. "I'm excited to play with Larks and Gus, I played with them a couple times before and it's fun so I'm looking forward to it."
Larkin expects Bertuzzi to be able to get him and Nyquist the puck through winning battles.
"He battles along the walls, battles in front of the net, battles in the corners," Larkin said. "As a centerman who wants the puck, you hang off the pile that he creates. He's gonna somehow get it to you. That's what I think he does best."
LARKIN'S POINT STREAK ENDS: On Wednesday night against the Calgary Flames, Larkin's career-best 14-game point streak came to an end.
Since 1995-96 only Henrik Zetterberg's 17-game streak from Oct. 3-Nov. 11, 2007 and Steve Yzerman's 16-game streak from Feb. 10-March 12, 1996 were longer.
"I think the bigger picture here is we gotta get back on track and winning," Larkin said. "I guess it's nice for it to kind of go away in a sense, but I can just get back to playing a 200-foot game. Last night that wasn't there and I got outplayed by there top line. There's more important things. There's more games, there's an opportunity for a new streak. Hopefully that's a win streak for our team."
Larkin had seven goals and 10 assists during the streak.
ALL-STAR JIMMY, MAYBE DYLAN: On Wednesday, the NHL announced that Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard had made the All-Star roster for the third time in his career.
"Jimmy's been our best player this season," Larkin said. "He battles every night for us. He's someone that's been around the league for a while, been a Red Wing for a while. It's well deserved for him to get recognized and he's going to have a lot of fun."
Howard was injured in 2015 and couldn't play but did play in 2012.

This time will be even more meaningful because of his sons, James IV, 7, and Henry, 4.
"It's special. Now that they're older, it's going to be a lot of fun to see their excitement," Howard said. "Henry actually woke up this morning and asked how many more sleeps until we go to California? It's going to be a lot of fun."
This will be the first time that Howard plays in the game with the 3-on-3 format.
"Has any All-Star game ever been fun for a goalie?" Howard laughed. "It's one of those things where you just enjoy the moment. You go out there and you take it all in. You're out there with the best guys in the NHL, well most of them, and you just enjoy yourself."
Howard said his boys are looking forward to seeing some of their favorite players - besides dad, of course.
"Obviously, Larks is probably their favorite," Howard said. "Auston Matthews, Patrick Kane, Connor McDavid. James is learning players from playing video games, NHL 19. They're both looking forward to it."
James and Henry have already met Larkin but there is a chance that Larkin could be there for the game as he is one of the eight players vying for an All-Star spot as part of the "Last Men In" campaign.
The competition is pretty stiff as the Atlantic Division candidates include Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron, Buffalo Sabres forward Jeff Skinner, Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber, Ottawa Senators forward Mark Stone, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly.

"I'm going to start voting for Bergeron," Larkin joked. "It wouldn't be bad to have the nine days."
Following the All-Star break, the Wings go on their bye week so Larkin would still get him off if he were voted in.
"It's a fun weekend celebrating hockey and being around all the best players in the world," Larkin said. "Either way, it's an honor to be recognized with that group. I think it'd be fun to go with Howie and his two young boys James and Henry and see how excited they are. They're always around the rink, so I know they're going to be fired up. It'd be cool to be with them."
Voting started at noon Thursday and goes through 11:59 p.m. ET on Jan. 10 at NHL.com/Vote or on the mobile interactive ballot on the NHL app.
ATHANASIOU OK, GREEN TO START SKATING: Forward Andreas Athanasiou, who scored his 14th goal of the season on a penalty shot and 100th NHL point Wednesday, did not practice Thursday.

Blashill said Athanasiou had to return home for a funeral but will return for Friday's game.
The Wings are currently without veteran defensemen Mike Green (lower body), Danny DeKeyser (hand) and Trevor Daley (broken foot) but that could be changing soon.
"I think Green's going to try to go out with pads on tomorrow and skate so if he's able to do that, that puts him a step closer," Blashill said. "We'd certainly still be seven days from probably the time he's able to go out and really skate. If he is able to go out and skate, then I would give kind of a seven-day range, not necessarily the exact time but that's kind of what we'd be looking at."
Green has missed the last 10 games.