The Red Wings’ beat writers shared the news that Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin “false positive” tested for COVID during the Red Wings-Stars game on Tuesday, so Larkin will rejoin the team tonight in Vegas.
MLive’s Ansar Khan has more…
“Disbelief, frustration and then the possibility that I had COVID and trying to get out of there and not infect anyone, although I’d played two periods,” Larkin said. “I thought a lot about the guys and not having a bigger situation come out of it. Just an unfortunate situation and I really felt like we were coming on. I wasn’t really able to watch the third there.”
Coach Jeff Blashill noted how quickly COVID can spread through a team.
“It’s frustrating, but at the end of the day everybody is probably going through different things that can be frustrating with COVID,” Blashill said. “That’s just the reality of it. You got to deal with it.”
Vaccinated players and team personnel are required to be tested every 72 hours, but in a situation like this, they were all tested again after the Dallas game. Tyler Bertuzzi, the NHL’s lone unvaccinated player, is tested daily.
The Red Wings were tested earlier in the day Tuesday, but results weren’t available until later that evening.
“We’re at the mercy of the home team,” Blashill said. “Most of the teams in the league have the ability to get those turned around quickly (30 minutes, he said). Dallas doesn’t have that. I think they’re working towards that.”
As does the Free Press’s Helene St. James…
Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin was back on the ice Thursday after a brief COVID scare.
Larkin was pulled during Tuesday’s game at Dallas after a positive test and placed in pandemic protocol after receiving a positive test. He stayed in Dallas as his teammates flew on to Las Vegas, joining them late Wednesday after further testing revealed Larkin does not have COVID-19.
“I’m here, I’m happy to be here,” Larkin said. “It’s been tough, but it’s part of the world right now and part of protocols.
“It has been challenging, mentally. I’ve been thinking about other people, thinking about the possibility of 10 days out. There’s been a lot going through my mind, but I’m just really happy to be playing tonight.”
“There have been some difficult things going on,” Larkin said. “I was really hoping when I came back after the time away, I was really hoping to have that all in the past and to move forward. I’m looking to do that and be there for the guys and play really hard. That’s what I’ve been trying to do, and not worry about whether pucks are going in — just worry most about the team and play a good game for the team.”
Larkin had 23 points in 44 games last season. It was a disappointing time for Larkin, who came into the pandemic-shortened season with the honor of having been named captain by general manager Steve Yzerman. Larkin, and the Wings, expected a significantly better performance this year, and Larkin largely has delivered.
“He felt like he has more to offer and I think he has played really good this year when he’s played, and it’s been not that easy,” Blashill said. “It’s been a lot of stops and starts in terms of the games he’s been in and the games he hasn’t been able to play. I think he’s done a really good job of staying focus on what he can control and that’s his effort level, that’s his output in games, and he’s done a good job.”
The stress he endured last season led Larkin to want to play with more perspective.
“The highs and lows are pretty dramatic at times if you let them get to you, and I feel at times I’ve let them get to me,” he said. “This year, I really worked on not letting that happen, whether it’s going well or not. Whether things come into your life and take you out of the lineup for a week, or you can’t play a third period — I’m really just trying not to let it get to me and be grateful that I’m here. We have a great team and a great group of guys that work really hard and we’re having a lot of fun and that’s what means the most to me this year.”
Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen weighed in…
“It’s just part of what the world is right now,” Larkin said. “We are all trying to deal with it. Yes, I play hockey. But it’s a pandemic. There are protocols, and things you can do to try to help, but the virus is still out there.”
The Red Wings fell behind 3-0 in Dallas. They cut the lead to 3-2. Larkin is hot. He scored five goals in five games. They lost momentum when they lost their captain. They lost the game 5-2.
“Yes, it’s frustrating,” Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. “But at the end of the day, probably everybody in life is going through different things with Covid. It’s just the reality of it. You got to deal with it. Would I love if he wasn’t pulled and finished the third? Absolutely. Am I glad he doesn’t have Covid as a health concern? Absolutely. ”
The Red Wings are heavily dependent upon their No. 1 line. Larkin, rookie Lucas Raymond and Tyler Bertuzzi have combined for 24 goals. That represents 47% of Detroit’s goal production. Speedy Larkin is the catalyst of the line.
As did the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan:
Larkin was back, but the Wings were forced to tinker with their lineup.
Defenseman Marc Staal was not available to play Thursday because of a non-COVID illness.
Without Staal, either Jordan Oesterle or Troy Stecher were likely to enter the lineup.
