Riley Sheahan, Jaroslav Halak

Riley Sheahan's 12 points in 20 games would put him on a 50-point pace for a full season.

(AP Photo)

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings’ injury-riddled season has led to constant lineup shuffling and juggling of lines.

Oddly enough, some of the club’s youngest, least-experienced players have combined to form the most stable line.

Tomas Tatar, in his first full season, and rookies Riley Sheahan and Tomas Jurco wouldn’t have stayed together if they weren’t providing offense and energy and playing responsibly without the puck.

They will continue to play an important role in the Red Wings’ playoff drive over the final six weeks of the season.

“I think we just figured it out and we read off each other well,” Sheahan, the line’s center, said. “We skate a lot. All of us think the game the same; we enjoy playing in the offensive zone and when it comes to playing in the D-zone we’re pretty steady and we get the puck out as quick as we can so we can have some more time in the O-zone.”

It’s the attention to detail (defensively, in the faceoff circle, along the wall) and playing the right way that pleases coach Mike Babcock about the trio that has only 121 games of NHL experience.

Still, he’d like to see them shoot more. Combined, they are averaging just fewer than two shots per game.

“All three of them, you got to shoot the puck; none of them seem to shoot the puck at first instinct,” Babcock said. “They’d have more offense if they’d shoot.”

The trio has been productive nonetheless.

Tatar, 23, has tremendous one-on-one moves, a nose for the net and good hands in tight. He has 14 goals, just two fewer than injured team leader Henrik Zetterberg, and 26 points.

“We’re just having more space on the ice now and maybe play with more confidence,” Tatar said. “We’re getting more trust from the coach.

“Me and (Jurco), growing up in Europe we were more like passing around instead of shooting. I agree; we should probably shoot more.”

Sheahan, the club's top pick in 2010 (21st overall), has shown more offensive ability in the NHL than he did at Notre Dame or with the Grand Rapids Griffins. His 12 points in 20 games would put him on a 50-point pace, which is what the club hoped to get out of second-line center Stephen Weiss.

“He’s a better player than I would have ever known,” Babcock said. “He can shoot the puck way better, too. I just wish he’d do it once in a while (he has only 22 shots). The only time he shoots it it goes in the net. You’d think a guy would fire three or four a game.”

Sheahan, who had 20 goals in 114 games at Notre Dame, said he’s finding the pro game to be more open than college. He uses his decent-sized frame (6-foot-2, 212) to protect the puck.

“I think confidence was an issue in college, where you’d get down on yourself, and it’s such a short season that you didn’t have much time to regroup,” Sheahan said. “Here, so far it’s been good. Just keep working on trying to stay focused and being effective every shift. If the points aren’t coming, contribute by playing solid defensively and using my body.”

Sheahan, 22, contemplated leaving Notre Dame after his second year. Staying for a third season was the right move, Jiri Fischer, the Red Wings director of player development, said.

“He was mature; he turned pro and last year in Grand Rapids, consistently, he got better,” Fischer said. “In the playoffs he was very productive. This year since he’s gotten called up, he’s strong on the puck, he makes plays with a guy on his back, he makes plays off the rush.

“He’s got really high-end skill in tight places. He can really withstand the pressure of being down low in the offensive zone. It’s something we were starving for in Detroit and he’s proven himself.”

Jurco, the club's top pick in 2011 (35th overall), is a terrific stickhandler with finishing ability (four goals, nine points in 21 games). At 6-foot-2, 193, he also throws his weight around and goes to the hard areas.

“We’re getting lots of pucks in the corner because he’s finishing his checks,” Tatar said. “It brings energy and it’s good for our line, too.”

Fischer pointed out that Jurco has played a lot of hockey the past few seasons, due to three long playoff runs in the junior ranks with Saint John as well as Grand Rapids’ march to the Calder Cup championship in 2013.

“He just keeps getting better,” Fischer said. “Last year when he turned pro, he was

slotted on the third, fourth line. He was just kind of finding a way to transition into the pro game, but with those three short summers, he knew that he needed to work harder.”

Jurco, 21, was leading the Griffins in points when he was recalled.

“Every game he plays at the NHL level he’s dangerous,” Fischer said. “For me, he’s a lot of fun to watch.

“With his high-end skill at top speed, he’s a very dangerous rush player. And in the last year and a half, he’s learned how to forecheck and put pressure on the puck and stomp on any turnovers and really support the defense.”