DETROIT \u2013 The Detroit Red Wings have needed others to contribute offensively, not just rely on the same three or four players for scoring.<\/p>\n
Veterans James van Riemsdyk and Andrew Copp are delivering after slow starts.<\/p>\n
Van Riemsdyk has 10 goals and 13 points in his past 18 games after producing just one goal and two points in his first 17 games. Copp has five goals and 14 points in his past 17 games, after collecting just one goal and nine points in 27 games.<\/p>\n
They\u2019ve taken some of the pressure to produce off the likes of Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I used the words \u2018It\u2019s a must\u2019 earlier in the year and we\u2019ve been able to get it,\u201d coach Todd McLellan said. \u201cSo, when some of the bigger, higher-end scorers have gone dry, there\u2019s been that support system and it\u2019s not just coming from one individual, it\u2019s coming from a variety of different ones in different ways. A shorthanded goal the other night (for Michael Rasmussen in Monday\u2019s 5-3 victory at Ottawa),<\/a> first of the season. So, I\u2019ll reiterate that it\u2019s a must that we get that and it\u2019s also a must that the big boys keep producing as the season goes on.\u201d<\/p>\n The Red Wings (25-15-4) host Vancouver (16-21-5) on Thursday (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network).<\/p>\n Van Riemsdyk is tied for second on the team in goals since Nov. 24. He\u2019s played almost exclusively in a bottom-six capacity and with different linemates. He\u2019s also at the net-front presence on the top power-play unit.<\/p>\n \u201cJust feeling some good chemistry with different situations and my mates I\u2019ve been playing with, and I think we\u2019re just reading off each other well and playing smart, sound hockey and making good decisions for the most part,\u201d van Riemsdyk said. \u201cEspecially lately I feel like we\u2019re just really buying into that and nothing too flashy. Playing the game the right way that you can have success.\u201d<\/p>\n