Gregg Krupa

The Detroit News

Grosse Pointe Woods — Jeff Blashill believes in Riley Sheahan.

Sheahan defends well against some of the best forwards the Red Wings face, Blashill said. He wins faceoffs, the coach said, and he has a big body. And that is why, Blashill said, even though Sheahan still without his first goal this season, he plays.

Sometimes even in key moments of the game.

“I have sat him, that time in Dallas,” Blashill said of wielding the denial of ice time as a device against the 25 year-old forward, who is in his fourth season with the Red Wings after they drafted him in the first round, 21st overall, in 2010. “The decision I make on a nightly basis is who gives us our best chance to win.

Poor starts continually put Wings in early hole

“I actually think Riley does tons of good stuff. He hasn’t scored at all,” Blashill added, the tone of his voice indicating disappointment. “And then that means every time he makes a mistake defensively you rack up lots of minuses. From a process standpoint, to be honest with you, Riley does lots of good things.

“There’s times when I’ve been able to play him against the best players in the league — that other guys, you simply can’t because they don’t have the same physical attributes. He’s played against (Patrice) Bergeron, he’s played against (Ryan) Getzlaf. Those are tough assignments.

“He just — for whatever reasons, the puck just hasn’t gone in.”

In fact, Blashill said, he has contemplated sitting Sheahan more. He acknowledged it sends the player a message, and added it is a tactic best used sparingly.

At practice Thursday at University Liggett, Blashill registered his displeasure with Gus Nyquist and Anthony Mantha’s back-checking efforts during one of two short-handed goals for the Devils Tuesday. He pulled them off the power play and used Sheahan at center.

“Will they be on the power play tomorrow?” Blashill said Thursday, of Nyquist and Mantha. “They sure might be. We’ll see.”

As for Sheahan on the power play, he played well on it two seasons ago and Blashill can be forgiven for feeling he has tried just about everything else. The Red Wings’ power play has produced a goal only 11.4-percent of the time, dead last in the league and 2.2 percentage points behind the Colorado Avalanche in 29th.

“You look at the results here, lately, and you look at history,” Blashill said. “Riley Sheahan was on the ice at the end of the game last game. Why? Because he was by far the best face off guy, especially from the right side. If you don’t win that faceoff or at least tie or come close then you don’t stay in the zone.”

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