The Detroit Red Wings began their Life After Dylan Larkin Era Thursday with a 4-1 triumph against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Earlier in the day, Larkin informed the Red Wings that he was not going to play with the Red Wings anymore. Earlier in the summer, he had asked for a trade.
He decided he had waited long enough for that to occur. The Red Wings have suspended him from the team.
Red Wings lines: projected lineup and starting goalie →
“Obviously, (the win) meant a little more,” Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider. “I think it came down to that this is our squad and we got a really good group in here.”
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Seider said his take is he just wants Larkin to be happy. “And if that’s not here, hopefully it’s somewhere else.”
Seider said it was good to put the Larkin saga in the past.
“Turn the page,” Seider said, “and get really excited for whoever we get (in a trade), whatever pick we’re going to get and then we’ll have players who are happy to be here.”
The win raised Detroit’s record to 6-4-3, leaving them a point out of a Eastern Conference wildcard position. Given the Red Wings’ offseason issue, including Larkin’s trade request, this is a better start than expected.
Viktor Arvidsson keyed the win with three goals, including a tying goal, plus an assist. His third goal was an empty netter.
It was the sixth hat trick of his career.
Unless the Red Wings get a center back in a Larkin trade, Detroit’s center ice collection now has Emmitt Finnie as the team’s No. 1 center. Andrew Copp, J.T.
Compher and Sheldon Dreis.
Lucas Raymond scored the game-winning goal on the power play early in the third period after former Detroit player Patrick Kane drew a penalty for high-sticking Raymond.
The Blackhawks had claimed a 1-0 lead in the first period on a Connor Bedard goal.
Takeaways
Detroit goalie John Gibson stopped Frank Nazar on a penalty shot with less than nine minutes left in the second period. The game was tied 1-1 at the time.
Axel Sandin-Pellikka was a healthy scratch for the fourth consecutive game. Rookie defenseman William Willander earned his fourth point in eight games.
Patrick Kane was minus-3 with one shot on goal against Detroit.
Key Moment
Detroit’s Viktor Arvidsson redirected a shot by William Willinder into the net at 7:31 of the second period to tie the game 1-1. It was Arvidsson’s sixth goal of the season to tie him with Alex DeBrincat for the team Lead.
His second goal of the game gave him the team lead with seven
Key Stat
The Red Wings, who have played competitive defense in the early going this season, held the Blackhawks to 11 shots on goal over the first 40 minutes. That doesn’t include Gibson’s penalty shot stop.
Up Next
The Red Wings will play the St. Louis in a 1 p.m. start on Halloween Saturday.
By Kevin Allen
Kevin has written professionally for almost 50 years. He was USA TODAY's lead hockey writer from 1986 to 2019.
