Detroit's top line of Mantha-Larkin-Bertuzzi turning heads

[TheMule93]

They've been the hottest line in hockey going back to last year. Gonna take more than 10 games to prove themselves though.

Whats key is that Mantha seems to have taken an enormous step forward this year. After ending last season on a high note, he dominated the worlds for team Canada last spring. Then he dominated preseason, and now he's carried that momentum into the regular season. This guy is finally realizing his potential as a 6'5 fast skating beast with awesome hands and an incredible shot. Previously his effort level was always questionable, but man, he's different now. A complete terror out there. I mean, check out this goal from him last night:



Larkin took his big step forward last year, Mantha is doing it this year. Bertuzzi looks like he picked up where he did last year as well. Great complimentary player with high hockey IQ and vision, best board battler ive ever seen, great at tipping pucks, and a good shot to boot. Hopefully they can keep it up, we haven't had a first line this good in a long ass time.

 

[Henkka]

At least Mantha has been very hot anywhere he plays.

He has now 35 points on his last 21 hockey games.

NHL season-ending, 8 games, 8+7 = 15 points
WHC Canada, 9 games, 7+7 = 14 points
NHL-preseason, 3 games, 4+0 = 4 points
New NHL season, 1 game, 1+2 = 3 points
---------------------------------
Total, 21 games, 20 goals, 15 assists = 35 points.

 

[HFBS]

Turning heads?

Sounds like a Yahoo gossip headline.

 

[Elvs]

Mods please delete this thread. It's jinxing my fantasy pool

 

[Go Wings]

Look as a Wings I really like Detroit top line but calm the f*** down. There are a lot of better top lines in the league.

 

[Lonewolfe2015]

I think you're thinking of the wrong Bertuzzi, and I think OP means turning heads Matthews' style- where he checked Sabourin's jersey, not the pants thing. As in "who? Their first line is who?"

Nah but for treal, great young players and I'm glad Wings fans have something good to watch.

Probably a reference to the sucker punch last season he gave. Larkin didn't exactly act any better either.

 

[Hatter of the Beach]

You're forgetting Gallagher-Danault-Tatar.

Unsure if serious....

 

[Hatter of the Beach]

They need to keep up that performance over at least half a season, if not more, to get recognized as what they are.

47 points / 9 games / 3 Players =1.74ppg per player

1.74*41 = 71 points

If you’re expecting any line to have 71 points per player in 41 games, I suggest you buy a time machine to the 80s Oilers.

 

[Kairi Zaide]

Unsure if serious....

How were they not one last season? Because I actually provided reasons why I think they were (again, judging from last season) in an earlier post.

 

[Bondurant]

My favorite line in hockey. I'm really f-ing biased but it's my favorite line in hockey.

 

[LarKing]

They have serious chem but it’s too early to call them elite. Lines have hot streaks all the time. It would be fun to watch them all have career years while the team around them sucks, but we’ll have to wait and see.

 

[Roomba With a Bauer]

47 points / 9 games / 3 Players =1.74ppg per player

1.74*41 = 71 points

If you’re expecting any line to have 71 points per player in 41 games, I suggest you buy a time machine to the 80s Oilers.

Ugh, you're being a little pedantic, but I'll amend my statement:

They need to keep up that performance, or a performance that is statistically similar to other top-scoring lines, over n>=41 games, to get recognized as what they are; which is, hopefully, a line capable of outscoring 25/31 top lines in the league.


​

 

[nbwingsfan]

Lol no they're not.
Landeskog-MacKinnon-Rantanen
Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnat
Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Kapanen-Tavares-Marner
Draisaitl-McDavid-Kassian
Benn-Seguin-Radulov

And that's just off the top of my head. I wouldn't put them in the top half of the league.

Have you paid any attention to the pace they’ve been on since the last 30 or so games of last year?

 

[Cursed Lemon]

Mantha taking strides is the key here. He's really playing like the big MF'er he is, and he's got a soft touch to boot. He was great last night.

 

[newfy]

Lol no they're not.
Landeskog-MacKinnon-Rantanen
Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnat
Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Kapanen-Tavares-Marner
Draisaitl-McDavid-Kassian
Benn-Seguin-Radulov

And that's just off the top of my head. I wouldn't put them in the top half of the league.

I would guess that theyre outperforming those lines offensively which was the point of the post. With every team trying to shut them down, no other offensive htreats on the team and a bad defense getting them the puck they have 46 points combined their last 9 games. Its a ridiculous pace AND theyre really good defensively as well

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

just picked up Bert off waivers in fantasy was that smart Red Wings fans?

 

[BinCookin]

They are looking promising. Wonder how far they can go this year...

I'll wait at least until game 20 to really start predicting how the year will turn out for our top line.

 

[Muffin]

Have you paid any attention to the pace they’ve been on since the last 30 or so games of last year?

Didn't look up the stats but I'm gonna guess they did not outproduce those lines. All those lines have 2 if not 3 point per game players on them.

 

[TheAngryHank]

They are good at shutting other lines down.

 

[jetsforever]

That picture is a perfect hockey picture.

 

[WingsMJN2965]

Mantha taking strides is the key here. He's really playing like the big MF'er he is, and he's got a soft touch to boot. He was great last night.

He looks like a f***ing bus these days. I swear he gets bigger every season.

 

[Dotter]

So all this fuss is technically about a 9 game split season stretch?

Correct. But understand from our POV this is exciting for us.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Didn't look up the stats but I'm gonna guess they did not outproduce those lines. All those lines have 2 if not 3 point per game players on them.

Pretty good chance they did or came very close, to out producing the Dallas trio. Benn only had 53pts

 

[holy]

Anyone know if Larkin’s hockey butt has anything to do with the turning heads?

 

[Legionnaire11]

Flyers fan in the 90's so I started hating the Wings in '97, then turned Preds fan when they were born and cemented my Wings hatred over the next decade+


And the current Wings lineup, especially this top line has me tuning in and rooting for them. It's an exciting and enjoyable group of players coming up there. Now with Yzerman at the helm, great things are coming soon enough.