Dylan Larkin 10-25-16

The Red Wings' Dylan Larkin has proven to be more effective on the wing.

(Mike Mulholland/MLive.com)

PHILADELPHIA - The Detroit Red Wings' young, fast-skating forwards made an impact Wednesday as Dylan Larkin and Andreas Athanasiou each scored a goal.

But while Larkin is rounding into form, Athanasiou has work to do, based on coach Jeff Blashill's comments following his team's 4-3 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center.

Larkin has shown to be much more effective on the wing, where he flourished as a rookie last season. The team planned on having Larkin assume the top-line center role from Henrik Zetterberg, but after he produced no goals and one assist in four games, he was moved back to the wing. Larkin has four goals in the past five games, tying him for the team lead with Darren Helm and Thomas Vanek, and is generating more scoring chances from the wing, where he is better able to utilize his speed.

"I think Larks has played good hockey lately," Blashill said. "He's getting chances, he's getting shots, his impact on the game has been good overall. I'm definitely happy with where his game's at."

Larkin, playing on a line with Frans Nielsen and Gustav Nyquist, leads the team with 34 shots.

"I tried to focus on being strong on the puck in the offensive zone and being able to get second and third opportunities in their zone to keep the play alive, and keep the cycle going," Larkin said following Wednesday's game. "I think Frans, myself and Gus did a good job of that."

The Red Wings started strong, jumping out to a 2-0 lead, but the Flyers came back to tie it twice and won it on Jakub Voracek's goal at 1:41 of OT.

"I don't think we got too comfortable, but we just got away from the way we were playing," Larkin said. "We should be able to dictate how the game goes by the players on our team and by the mentality that we've got to get pucks deep and continue to grind them all 60 minutes."

The Red Wings (6-4-1) will try to snap a three-game winless streak Friday against Winnipeg at Joe Louis Arena (7:30, Fox Sports Detroit). The Jets (4-6-0) play at Washington on Thursday.

Athanasiou, like his team, needed to finish as strong as he started.

"I thought AA's first half was really good and I didn't like the second part of the second period, so he's got to make sure he plays complete for the whole time," Blashill said. "He's got to make sure that he's on it. ... I thought he was really playing well and then for whatever reason, he came off it."

What didn't he like about Athanasiou's play?

"He wasn't winning as many battles as he wins when he needs to, he wasn't as engaged skating-wise, he wasn't on the puck," Blashill said. "So those things we'll talk about internally."

Vanek 2-3 weeks away

General manager Ken Holland said Thomas Vanek is 2-3 weeks from returning to the lineup due to a muscle strain in his hip area.

Defenseman Niklas Kronwall (knee) is inching closer to making his season debut.

"We're having conversations about when he might return to playing," Holland said. "If all goes well, hopefully in the next week or so."

Holland expects Tomas Jurco (off-season back surgery) to be cleared for contact next week.

"Then he would need another week-to-10 days practicing every day, getting ramped up for game speed," Holland said.

Schenn cleared

The Flyers' Brayden Schenn avoided disciplinary action by the NHL for his hit to the head of Brendan Smith. Schenn, skating past Smith in the offensive zone, jumped and caught the defenseman in the head with his elbow.

Smith missed the final four minutes of the second period but returned in the third. Holland said he is fine and available for Friday's game.

"I 1,000 percent didn't try to hit him," Schenn told the Courier-Post. "I was trying to get out of his way and avoid contact. I know it probably doesn't look like that. I seen him swinging at the puck and I'm kind of watching the puck and to be honest I was trying to get out of his way and I hit him in the head by accident."