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Larkin latest Wing to throw down |
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D-Boss is the bomb.
The Detroit Red Wings, usually the NHL’s pacifists, continued to rampage through the league Friday night at Joe Louis Arena, winning their third straight game with a 5-3 decision over the Nashville Predators.
But that was merely the undercard. In the main event, forward Dylan Larkin extended Detroit’s league lead in fighting majors, pounding out a decision over Predators defenseman Yannick Weber in their third period bout in what Larkin said was the first hockey fight of his career.
“We got tangled up,” Larkin explained. He got me with a high stick. I reacted to it. He cross-checked me and it just happened.
“It’s part of the game, I guess. It’s something I don’t really want to do. My first ever fight.”
Larkin’s teammates were impressed with how the fledgling pugilist handled himself.
“He did good,” Detroit forward Drew Miller said. “He’s a strong kid.
“It was fun to see that.”
With five fights in five games, the Wings, who fought eight times as a team in 82 games last season, are establishing a reputation as a club not to be messed with, and that is an objective coach Jeff Blashill set out for his squad from the start of training camp.
“We didn’t do it enough last year,” Blashill said. “Probably it’s not something that’s been part of this room for a long time.
“Some of that’s personalities in the room but I do think it was a point of emphasis. We’ve really talked about that fact we’ve got to win as a team. We can’t win as individual players, we’re going to have to win as a team and part of winning as a team is having that feeling of camaraderie that you want to look after each other.”
The Wings believe that being there for each other is a significant part of what makes a team great.
“We’re tough,” left-winger Tomas Tatar said, jokingly flexing as he spoke. “No it just happens. Guys are sticking up for each other, which is great.
“That’s how teams should play. When your buddy is in a bad spot you should stand up for him.”
Miller’s Time
Last season was a forgettable, injury-plagued one for Miller.
This season is all about atonement and already with goals in the past two games, including the 13th game-winning goal of his NHL career in Wednesday’s victory at New York over the Rangers, Miller feels like he’s making that happen.
“Last year wasn’t a very good year for me and I wanted to bounce back and so far, so good,” Miller said.
He second period goal Friday that knotted the count at 2-2 was Miller’s ninth in 27 games against Nashville, the most he’s scored against any NHL team.
“Yeah I know that,” Miller said. “I get stat sheets.”
You Otter Know
Steve Ott returned to his spot on the fourth line with Miller and Luke Glendening for the first time since the season opener at Tampa and was his usual buzzing self.
“He gets out there, and he creates energy,” Miller said of Ott. “I definitely think he’s a player that opposing D, when he’s on the ice they know it and they’re looking over their shoulder.
“That gives us a little bit of an opportunity to get in on the forecheck and strip them of the puck.”
Sproul’s Spree
Defenseman Ryan Sproul, seeing his first action of the season, collected an assist on Justin Abdelkader’s goal for his first NHL point.
“I thought he played well,” Blashill said of Sproul. “I actually thought he showed real good mental toughness, too because he didn’t start real well and then I thought he got better as the game went along.
“I thought he was good on the power play shooting, I thought he was good getting up the ice. He used his assets well, I thought.”
Those assets included Sproul’s 6-4 frame, which he used to extend out and make a skate save on a shot by Nashville’s Kevin Fiala that was headed into the open side of the Detroit net.
“I thought I pulled my hammy but it’s all good,” Sproul said. “That’s just a desperation play. I think they had two guys in front.
“I just put the foot out and was probably lucky there.”
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