Former Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin hit the ice in Detroit for his first game back, and the crowd let him hear it, showering him with boos even as he helped the team secure their first lead of the season, three games into their homestand. Talk about a brutal welcome home! But those boo birds? They were silenced pretty quick as the Red Wings went on to score and hold the lead against the Ottawa Senators for the rest of the game. Larkin, a 30+ goal scoring center, immediately proved exactly why this team is just plain better with him in the lineup, no matter what external drama is swirling.
The “Medicine” Larkin Just Delivered
It wasn’t exactly a smooth night, but Larkin showed up when it mattered. When Tim Stutzle opened the scoring for the Senators a little over three minutes into the game, the Red Wings fired back almost instantly. Alex DeBrincat, or “Cat,” tied it up a mere 30 seconds later. Then, Larkin himself notched his first goal of the season on the power play, giving the Red Wings the lead in the first period, with Viktor Arvidsson and DeBrincat getting the assists. Head coach Todd McLellan didn’t mince words: “Larks is, He slots everybody right… So by having Larks play, it just puts people in the right spots.” You could feel it on the bench too, as McLellan added, “his teammates were rallying around him. They believe we’re a better team with him than without him.” And honestly, the proof was right there: this was the first time the Red Wings got into the win column in just under six months. Larkin himself put it best, saying, “I mean for a hockey player, the best medicine is just to play and to just enjoy it.”
Cat’s Scratch Trick and a Brawl
While Larkin was making his statement, Alex DeBrincat was absolutely tearing it up, too. This guy has quickly, and loudly, established himself as a leader even without an official captain on the ice. McLellan raved, “I thought Cat had a tremendous game tonight. He was all over the place.” And he wasn’t wrong. DeBrincat finished the night with three points: two goals and an assist. He leads the Red Wings with four points through their first three games. He’s a feisty winger, proving to be Detroit’s most dangerous player with or without the puck. Seriously, the guy might’ve even had a Gordie Howe Hat Trick if a late second-period scrum had gone his way. Instead, he had to settle for the two goals, an assist, and a double minor for roughing after Larkin went after Greig for a hit on DeBrincat, sparking an all-out brawl! Not quite the hat trick, but “Cat” definitely got his “scratch” in.
The Red Wings ended up defeating the Senators 5-2 at home tonight. Despite the mixed reception for Larkin and that lingering cloud of his trade request, the team on the ice felt a lot lighter. They played a faster, more aggressive game, and more importantly, they largely avoided the unnecessary penalties that had plagued their first two starts. They didn’t dig themselves into a hole. This wasn’t just a win; this was a statement. With Larkin back and DeBrincat leading the charge, the Red Wings finally look like they’re finding their stride, and that’s something fans can truly look forward to.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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