from Ansar Khan,

The Detroit Red Wings should get an offensive boost Friday when Anthony Mantha returns to the lineup against the Nashville Predators at Little Caesars Arena (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).

Mantha has missed 15 games with a torn ligament in his right middle finger, suffered in a fight with Colorado’s Patrik Nemeth on Dec. 2.

“I had a seven-day timeline a couple days ago and the finger has just been feeling better, so the doctor gave me the green light last night,” Mantha said. “I needed to get that motion back. I got it way quicker than he thought.

“I’ll try to come back as ready as I was when I got injured and hopefully, I can help the team win.”

Mantha has nine goals and five assists in 27 games. He got off to a bad start but was improving.

“He was playing excellent before he got injured,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “He was shooting the puck, he was moving his feet on a fairly consistent basis, he was pretty consistent in his effort defensively, and if he does those things, he’s a really good hockey player.”

continued

Also, Wade Megan back to GRG...

added 4:50pm, Watch below as Mantha speaks with the media after practice...