The Detroit Red Wings practiced on Monday with Dylan Larkin in the lineup and Marc Staal missing ahead of tomorrow’s game vs. Columbus (and a stretch of 4 games to be played over the course of 6 nights looming on the schedule).
After practice, Dylan Larkin took responsibility for his suspension for punching Mathieu Joseph, and coach Jeff Blashill told the media (via video) that Staal’s status is uncertain, that the Wings are attempting to improve their special teams play, and that Joe Veleno is in Grand Rapids to play the most important minutes he possibly can right now.
All three of the Red Wings’ beat writers took note of Larkin’s remarks regarding his suspension, and the play that led up to it, starting with MLive’s Ansar Khan…
“It was a tough 6-7 months (after the Benn hit), I had some tough nights and I wanted to do something about it so bad, there was so much anger. My buddies asked me to go golfing all summer and I couldn’t golf. I couldn’t go on boats. I don’t want to have a sob story (but) that went through my head quickly. Maybe I thought about if something happens, I’m going to do something about it, but I can’t lash out like that. The one-game suspension was warranted.”
Larkin received a match penalty at 11:40 of the second period, getting ejected from the game and putting the Lightning on a five-minute power play during which they scored twice before going on to win 7-6 in overtime.
“When hits like that happen, you got to do something different to try to fight him or whatever,” Larkin said. “I think I was too aggressive and kind of lost my cool for a split-second, but I was very much disappointed in myself after and disappointed for the team.
“But I also think enough is enough. I’ve been through some tough times. I felt a pain and immediately thought, ‘Here we go again,’ and I got up and reacted, and I dealt with the punishment and I’m very much ready to move on.”
And continuing with the Free Press’s Helene St. James…
Continue reading Monday practice notebooks: On Larkin’s suspension, frontier justice, and Staal’s absence