Helene St. James | Detroit Free Press

Helene St. James/Detroit Free Press

Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

BOSTON — Martin Frk doesn’t believe he lacks confidence. What he would like is more opportunity.

The endearing Detroit Red Wings forward has been in and out of the lineup during the past few weeks, a challenging position for a young player aspiring to be a regular.

“It’s something that no one wants to do,” Frk said after Tuesday’s morning skate at TD Garden. “It’s tough, you know. You are trying to stay positive. Definitely I don’t want to do this but that’s the decision and I have to understand that.”

He is penned in to play in the Tuesday evening game against the Boston Bruins on the fourth line, with Luke Glendening and Luke Witkowski. Frk had been scratched in five of the previous eight games, even as the Wings have struggled to score — entering Tuesday, their 2.55 goals-per-game average was fifth-lowest in the NHL — and Frk’s 12.7 shooting percentage ranked third on the team among players who’d played at least 50 games.

Coach Jeff Blashill said he hasn’t lost faith in Frk.

“He’s got to go in and play with confidence and that confidence has to come from within and when he does that, he’s a good player,” Blashill said. “It’s one of those things, I think sometimes as a player — the easiest times is when you get lots of ice time and you’re on a top-three line and maybe on a special teams role, and the hardest time is when you’re not. But the guys that grind through and find a way to be effective in those roles are guys that end up earning more ice time after that.”

Frk, 24, was a feel-good story coming out of training camp, making the Wings' roster a season after they briefly lost him on waivers. He scored in the first game, again in the second and in the fourth. He gained a fan in his center at the time, Dylan Larkin.

“I liked his shot, his energy,” Larkin said. “He forechecks hard. He’s one guy, you get him the puck, you see him make something happen. He takes a lot of hits to make plays, and that’s good. He’s going to draw guys to him and most likely you are going to be open. One thing I really liked about him was he’s good at communicating. He listens and he’s open to new ideas and as a centerman that’s what you want — you want to talk and have feedback on the line.”

Frk has an incredibly hard, albeit inaccurate, shot, and he’s one of five players on the team who shoots right. His work ethic can’t be faulted — if anything, he’s sometimes so intense coaches have told him he’d be more effective if he was calmer. At 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, he also uses his body to advantage.

“The shot is one thing,’ Blashill said. “He has to score, for sure. But I think he can bring forecheck pressure and physicality. It’s something when he’s playing real well, he does. Him and I have had a conversation about that, just making sure that he brings that type of forecheck pressure, physicality and track pressure. He’s a worker. When he’s working, he’s a real good player, so let’s make sure he’s really skating.”

Frk was not penciled in on either power play unit, even though five of his 10 goals have come during man advantages. More even-strength shifts with Larkin seems unlikely as Blashill has Justin Abdelkader and Anthony Mantha on the line.

“I look at the team in totality,” Blashill said. “Whoever plays with Dylan is probably going to get a pretty good opportunity because they are probably going to get lots of ice time and Dylan is a really good player. Is it Abby? Is it Mantha? Is it Frk? I have to try to put the pieces together the best I can. There is not enough ice time for everybody, and that’s the choices you have to make as a coach.”

Frk is indefatigable in his drive to play in the NHL. He showed strength last season when he responded to being waived first by Detroit and then by Carolina (which is how the Wings reacquired him) by having a standout season in Grand Rapids, helping the Griffins to the Calder Cup. Griffins coach Todd Nelson said last summer he had a soft spot for Frk because of how hard he works, because of how sincere he is in his efforts.

Frk has struggled since Christmas, with just two goals over a 26-game span. Still, Frk doesn’t see himself lacking belief in himself.

“He told me to play with confidence,” Frk said. “I don’t think I have a problem with my confidence. I’m not worried about that. When I go on the ice I just have to show him I can play, I can be every day in the lineup. Every shift you get, you have to always do it right, make sure they don’t lock you in your zone. Get on the forecheck and try to produce something.

“I am enjoying every day I am here. It’s something when I was a little kid I was dreaming about it, and now I am living it. It’s definitely nice to be in the National Hockey League.”

Boston is the Wings’ last stop on a four-game road trip during a March that has them playing 11 of 16 games on the road.

Two days at home for Frk means a chance to cuddle with an unconditional supporter: His French bulldog, Winston.

“He’s always positive,” Frk said. “He always makes me more happy.”