Preview: Red-hot Bertuzzi, Red Wings face Nashville Saturday night

DETROIT -- Tyler Bertuzzi is well-known across the NHL as a grinder and an opportunistic goal scorer. He's starting to establish himself as a facilitator that accelerates the development of those around him.
Bertuzzi scored a power-play goal and tallied a pair of assists on Friday against Dallas, continuing a red-hot stretch in which he's produced 14 points in the last nine games, and seven in the last three contests.

The points are coming in bunches. But what's particularly evident as of late is his ability to set up his linemates, and put them in position to have clean looks and high-quality scoring chances.

Bertuzzi and the Detroit Red Wings will look to extend their point streak to four games on Saturday when they face the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. Puck drop is set for 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT on Bally Sports Detroit and the Red Wings Radio Network.
Since joining the second line centered by Pius Suter and flanked by Robby Fabbri on Jan. 15 against the Buffalo Sabres, Bertuzzi has assisted on both of Fabbri's goals, and on Suter's tally Friday night. The chemistry is developing quickly, and Bertuzzi has made a concerted effort to get the puck to his linemates in their spots.

"I just think it's something that's continued to grow throughout his career," captain Dylan Larkin said. "He's more confident and more skilled, he's got great hands, great hand-eye coordination. He's always fighting for the puck, and sometimes fighting with the puck to get it through guys, and it works. He's continued to get better and continued to gain confidence, and make plays, and good plays."
Bertuzzi is right behind Larkin for the team lead in points with 35, including 19 goals and 16 assists. In just 33 games, he's on a legitimate point-per-game track. His assists are trending up, with five in the last six games, and he already has more assists in January than he did the entire month of December.
"He can make plays, there's no doubt he can make plays," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "I've always thought he could do that. His balance is just the balance of when to make a play and when to live another day."
It's been an impressive stretch, but not necessarily an unexpected one. According to Blashill, the game could be slowing down for Bertuzzi, now in his sixth NHL season.
"He's been in the league longer, so for sure, he's probably more confident than he was, he's stronger, he's more experienced," Blashill said. "All those things help you get to a point where you could potentially drive a line. I think he has done that; he's helped really be a driver on that line, and he's brought 'Suts' and 'Fabbs' to another level, and that's what good players do."

Saturday's game will wrap up the season series between Detroit and Nashville, and the Predators will be eyeing a season sweep. They defeated the Red Wings, 5-2, at Little Caesars Arena on Dec. 7 when Detroit was playing some of its best hockey during a five-game winning streak. Nashville jumped out to a 2-0 lead, before a power-play goal by Fabbri sliced the deficit in half. The Preds kept the pressure on in the second period, building a 4-1 lead that Detroit couldn't overcome.
Nashville (25-14-3) is looking to build some momentum of its own. The Predators snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over Winnipeg on Thursday. That stretch followed a five-game winning streak to start the 2022 calendar year. Nashville is currently in a playoff spot, sitting in third place in the Western Conference's Central Division.

Larkin's steady production

Larkin's highlight-reel goal on Friday against Dallas was his 19th tally of the season, punctuating another very productive scoring stretch. Larkin, an NHL All-Star, has five points (3-2-5) in his last three games, and 15 points (9-6-15) in his last 12 contests. He has eight points on four goals and four assists in January.

"I think Dylan's skating really well with the puck, and I think that's what can be a real separator for him," Blashill said. "He's got the puck on his stick lots, and obviously he's got good ability to finish, and he's showing that. He's finished a number of different ways this year, and even in tight in those types of areas. It's been a real good year so far for Dylan, but we're gonna continue to need lots out of him."