NASHVILLE, Tenn. _ The top line put on quite a show in the Detroit Red Wings' opening night showdown.
The Wings began their 2019-20 season Saturday at Bridgestone Arena with a bold performance highlighted by their top young talent. The first line contributed four of the goals in the 5-3 victory over the Nashville Predators.
Tyler Bertuzzi and Anthony Mantha scored 71 seconds apart in the first period and assisted on each other's goal. Dylan Larkin set up Mantha's goal and scored in the third period, showing off his shot with a long-range rip. Mantha had a goal and two assists. Bertuzzi had two goals and two assists.
Luke Glendening angled the puck from the right circle to provide a 4-3 lead in the third period and Bertuzzi scored an empty-net goal with 1:02 to go in regulation. Glendening raced to the puck to avoid an icing call on the play.
Jimmy Howard made 39 saves.
Bertuzzi earned the first goal of the season at 10:29 when he one-timed a pretty pass from Larkin, sending the puck top shelf. Mantha made it 2-0 on a goal that demonstrated what a power forward he can be _ he carried the puck to the net, slicing through two defenders without losing the puck. Larkin nearly made it 3-0, but his shot went off the far goal post. He made it 3-2 early in the third period, blasting a one-timer from the high slot off a pass from Mantha.
The Wings successfully challenged when Dante Fabbro scored in the first period, saying that Filip Forsberg interfered with Howard. They weren't able to challenge when the Predators came out with a huge push in the second period, and the 2-0 lead was leveled. Viktor Arvidsson finished off a tic-tac-toe play on a man advantage at 4:40 and Forsberg scored at 12:58. At one point, the Wings were pinned in their zone for more than a minute. The Predators outshot the Wings, 15-10, in the second period.
As good as the first line was, Andreas Athanasiou's absence made for a patchwork of groupings. He is supposed to be the scoring threat on the second line, but without him, the line had Valtteri Filppula with Taro Hirose and Luke Glendening. The third line had Frans Nielsen with Christoffer Ehn and Adam Erne, and on the fourth line, Jacob de la Rose centered Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader.
