Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin is having a good season. But he might be leading the NHL in bad luck.
A false positive on a Covid test removed him mid-game from a tight road game against the Dallas Stars Tuesday. A subsequent test proved he was Covid free, leaving the Red Wings to wonder if they would continue to rally if their captain had played third period.
A couple of weeks ago, Larkin missed three road games for personal reasons. Earlier in the season, he was suspended one game after he took a swing at a player who ran him head-first into the boards. His linemate and close friend Tyler Bertuzzi can’t play in Canada because he isn’t vaccinated. The Red Wings are 0-3 in those games. And Larkin spent all of last summer in rehab for a serious neck injury. Larkin knows adversity. But he’s having one of the better starts of his career. He has eight goals and 14 points in 14 games.
“I think he was disappointed and frustrated with (last season),… Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. “He felt like he has more to offer, and I think he’s playing really good this year when he’s played. It’s not been easy, been a lot of stops and starts in terms of games he’s been in and not been able to play. He’s done a really good job of staying focused on what he can control.…
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— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) January 5, 2021
Here are the remainder of my notebook items:
2. The Montreal Canadiens are looking for a defenseman. Would guess they called about Colorado’s Sam Girard, even though the Athletic’s Pierre Lebrun reported the Avs would need to be wowed by an offer to move him.
3. The Islanders’ need for defensive help became more urgent when Ryan Pulock went down with a lower body injury this week. He will be sidelined for four to six weeks.
4. If you are looking for dark horses to make the U.S. Olympic team, think about the Islanders’ Brock Nelson, Anaheim’s Troy Terry and Vancouver’s J.T. Miller. Nelson has a history of playing well in international competition and Miller is one of USA’s most underrated players. Today, Terry is fourth in the league scoring race with 21 points in 16 games. Miller is a versatile center with 18 points in 17 games. Miller has been a strong player for a long time, but seems to fly under the radar.
5. Ryan Getzlaf is the NHL’s most rejuvenated player. Six months from his 37th birthday, Getzlaf has 18 points in 17 games. Last season, he had 17 points in 48 games
6. There are several reasons why the expansion Seattle Kraken aren’t as good as the expansion Vegas Golden Knights were a few years ago. But here is a big one: They are last in team save percentage at .871.
7. Team 33, an independent player analysis company, says Buffalo’s Peyton Krebs and Jack Quinn are comparable prospects. The Sabres acquired Krebs from Vegas in the Jack Eichel deal. The Team 33 value for Krebs is 484 and Quinn is at 472 on their scale. Krebs’ skating and hockey sense, the highest valued categories, are rated slightly higher than Quinn’s.
8. The Red Wings’ No. 1 line of Lucas Raymond, Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi has produced 24 goals. That represents 47% of the team’s goal production this season.
9. Cole Caufield was recalled by the Montreal Canadiens after registering five points in six games for Laval. He will play tonight against Pittsburgh. The Habs hope he has regained his confidence.
10. Two defensemen who are locks to make the U.S. Olympic team because of their defensive play are Carolina’s Jaccob Slavin and Tampa Bay’s Ryan McDonagh.
11. According to natural stat trick, the top six Corsi teams are the Florida Panthers (55.97), Carolina Hurricanes (55.22), Minnesota Wild (54.13), Boston Bruins (53.76), Calgary Flames (53.73) and Toronto Maple Leafs (53.58).Their combined record is 60-22-9.
12. Every team near the bottom of the team save percentage rankings has an ugly record with one exception. The Minnesota Wild are 10-5 and they rank 29th in team save percentage (.898). The good Corsi helps.
13. The New York Rangers, according to capfriendly.com, have $9 million in cap space remaining. The Carolina Hurricanes have $1.7 million. It will be interesting to see how the disparity will impact the Metropolitan race down the stretch.
14. The Red Wings are thankful Larkin’s positive Covid test was a false positive. Covid has become a problem again in the NHL. The Red Wings play the Vegas Golden Knights tonight and they have three players missing because they are in Covid protocol. That includes top scorer Jonathan Marchessault. “From a team perspective, we’re all relieved,… said Detroit coach Jeff Blashill about Larkin’s negative test. “Once it gets into your team, COVID seems to spread fast.…
15. Alex Ovechkin is 36 and he’s on pace (124 points) for the best season of his career. He’s not going to reach 124 points, but we tend to take Ovechkin’s dominance for granted. We have been watching an incredible athlete. He is dedicated to his craft. He loves the game.
16. Are you buying the Tom Wilson on the Canadian Olympic team drum beat? He is having a strong start, playing more in control. But I just can’t buy in.
17. Presuming Carey Price will get back in the saddle soon, I still like him as Canada’s Olympic goalie.
18. Still believe in the NHL's lottery draft system, but I think the worst team should have a better chance of landing the No. 1 pick.
19. Chicago goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has pushed his save percentage above .900, but his goals-against average is still at 3.36. But he has stopped 95 of 100 shots in three consecutive wins.
20. Multiple factors contributing to Nashville’s better-than-expected start. But let’s begin with Roman Josi playing 25+ minutes per game with six goals in 16 games. He is +8. Pencil him in as early Norris favorite.
21. Once upon a time, Corey Perry was a 50-goal scorer and a Hart Trophy winner. Today, he has one assist playing 13 minutes per game for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Perry used to be counted on for goals. Today, he is counted on for being a pain to play against. Perhaps he enjoys himself just as much as he did when he was a scorer.
22. The Arizona Coyotes have a -36 goal-differential after 16 games. If that pace continues, the Coyotes would be at -185 for the season. They are scoring an average of 1.63 goals per game.
23. Dave Schultz turned 72 last month. When I think of the Broadstreet Bullies, I think of The Hammer even before I think of Bobby Clarke and Bernie Parent.
24. We’ve discussed how coach Don Granato has been good for the younger players. But he’s also been good for the veterans. Jeff Skinner is playing much better. He totaled 14 points in 53 games last season. This season, he has nine points in 15 games.
25. Dr. V. George Nagobads turns 100 today. He was the team physician for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team and one of coach Herb Brooks’ confidants. It’s been said that he planted the seed of Mike Eruzione being named captain.