Red Wings at New York Rangers 4-9-16

New York Rangers goalie Antti Raanta stops a shot on the goal by the Red Wings' Riley Sheahan on Saturday.

(The Associated Press)

TAMPA, Fla. - The Detroit Red Wings are counting on their biggest forward, Riley Sheahan, to create havoc in front of one of the league's biggest goaltenders, Ben Bishop.

The 6-foot-3, 222-pound Sheahan was effective at the net front during a late-season surge in which he accounted for five goals and nine points in the final 13 games. He also provided a screen on some goals for which he wasn't credited with a point.

Sheahan and others, notably Justin Abdelkader, must provide a good net presence against the 6-foot-7 Bishop for the Red Wings to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in their first-round playoff series.

"I don't think he really likes chaos in front of him; he's a big guy, he can see over a lot of people, so it will be huge for us to get pucks there and create some havoc," Sheahan said prior to Game 2 Friday. "Scoring some dirty goals will be big and just being in front of that net will be huge for us."

Sheahan struggled offensively much of the season until the final month, when he showed more determination to get to the net. It prompted coach Jeff Blashill to put him back on the second power-play unit.

"I think it's just a little extra edge to get to the net and in front of the goalie's eyes," Sheahan said. "I think all the guys are bearing down and especially that last little run that we had to make it to the playoffs. So I think it's a mixture of a bunch of things and feeling comfortable out there and playing with some good players."

Sheahan doesn't play a physical game, but he's one of the team's few decent-sized forwards, increasing his value.

"He's a big body, so sometimes through the course of the year that can wear on you," Blashill said. "That's a lot of body to carry around the ice, especially 200 feet, the way that he plays a complete game, so I think through the course of the year there's probably times where he doesn't have as much jump.

"But he's had great jump here, I'd say over the last month he's really skating well and when he skates well, he just gets himself a little bit more involved. He's on the forecheck, good stick on puck, he's winning puck battles, he's got the puck on his stick more. When he's got the puck on his stick, he's got real good ability, he can protect it well and he can make plays in small areas."

Blashill: Larkin will feel more comfortable

Dylan Larkin had a rough playoff debut in Game 1. He was caught up ice on Tampa Bay's first goal and registered no points or shots on goal in a season-low 11:30.

Blashill doesn't expect that will continue.

"All year long Dylan's been a good player for us. We're going to need him to be a good player for us in this series," Blashill said. "He gets important minutes. So when you get important minutes you have to play at a high level."

Larkin admitted making a mistake by stepping up in the play that allowed the Lightning a three-on-two rush, which Nikita Kucherov capped with his first goal of the game.

"I think it says lots about his character, that's he's comfortable enough in his own skin that he can admit mistakes," Blashill said. "When you're comfortable in your abilities and comfortable in your own skin, you allow yourself to say, 'I should have been better in this area' and that's how you get better.

"We try to create an environment where we hold ourselves accountable and our simple approach is to try to get better and learn from mistakes. We're not afraid to point out mistakes and learn from them as a group. Dylan has shown the capacity to learn and get better. He doesn't make the same mistake over and over again."

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