Riley Sheahan 12-23-16

Riley Sheahan can provide a net presence for the Red Wings, particularly on the power play.

(The Associated Press)

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Riley Sheahan hasn't scored a goal this season, but his size, net presence and faceoff ability are keeping him in the lineup for the Detroit Red Wings.

Coach Jeff Blashill said before Saturday's game in San Jose that he rarely sits out players based on point production.

"We make decisions to maybe healthy scratch somebody based on process," Blashill said. "That's defensive process, that's battle level, that's compete level, that's effort level. Just because the puck hasn't gone in for him this year, it's unfortunate, but I think his game lately has been good, to be honest with you. He's doing lots of things that help us."

Sheahan has no goals, six assists and a minus-14 rating in 38 games. The only game he missed, Dec. 29 at Ottawa, was due to an injury.

When Sheahan is playing well, like he was the final 20 games of the 2015-16 season, he's utilizing his 6-foot-3, 226-pound frame to drive to the net and create scoring opportunities and he's responsible defensively.

"I sat there for 20 minutes and had a session about getting to the net and being harder at the net and getting pucks to the net," Blashill said. "It's hard to take one of your few guys that's really a natural net presence guy out of the lineup when that's what you're looking for more of. Wouldn't make any sense.

"I think Riley has done lots of good stuff. It's well-documented that he hasn't scored. While I want him to score, I want his process to be great and I think his process has been very good lots of nights."

Sheahan said he's trying to play the same way, saying he knows he has offense in him. He had 24 points (nine goals. 15 assists) in 42 games as a rookie in 2013-14, put up a career-high 36 points the following season and had a career-high 14 goals among his 25 points in 2015-16.

"I'm going to try to do the same things," Sheahan said. "It's all I can do, get to the net, try to create some offense. I think we all need to do that in order to be successful."

The only healthy alternative the Red Wings have is Tomas Jurco, who has no points in 11 games.