Dylan Larkin makes an entrance on the Four Nations Face-Off stage

Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin scored the game-winning goal in Team USA’s 3-1 win over Canada at the Four Nations Face-Off on Saturday night, ensuring that the Americans have a berth in the tournament final next Thursday…

Given the way that the hockey world focused on the “hat trick’s” worth of fights that opened the game, the booing of the American national anthem, and the performances (or the lack thereof) from the host Canadians, you might have been forgiven if you forgot that this happened:

Larkin registered a goal and an assist, playing on the Americans’ third line, but the post-game talking points came from 2-goal-scorer Jake Guentzel and the brothers Tkachuk, so it was a pleasant surprise to see #71…I mean #21…mentioned by Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis as a standout player for the Americans…

#21 Dylan Larkin, C (Detroit Red Wings): Originally, this was going to say “What would it take for USA to use Larkin more?” But then, he scored to make it 2-1, and USA started to listen. His speed has been on full display over the two games, but the puck, more often than not, has been in the opponent’s end when he’s on the ice. Larkin brings so much energy to every shift and he’s one of the few bottom-six players that you can continuously count on getting to the middle and trying to generate something no matter the defensive opponent.

And The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa mentioned Larkin’s play as a point of emphasis, too…

Dylan Larkin started the tournament as America’s No. 4 right wing. He will not be back there anytime soon.

Larkin, promoted to third-line center against Canada, was electric in the second period. He nearly executed an inside-out move in front of Jordan Binnington, but rang his shot off the left post.

Larkin made up for his miss later in the second.

The Americans made a stout play in the defensive zone. Matt Boldy picked off a Sidney Crosby pass to initiate a two-on-one rush for Larkin and Miller. Meanwhile, Thomas Harley had gone off the ice for a change after getting the puck into the offensive zone.

With only Travis Sanheim back for Canada, Larkin pushed the pace and whistled a shot on net, never even looking at Miller as an option. Larkin’s shot sizzled through Jordan Binnington, giving the Americans a 2-1 lead.

But NHL.com’s Dan Rosen got into the Americans’ locker room after the game, and he offered a few quotes from the original article–and they’re what you would expect from a very proud American:

“That was one of the best experiences of my life,” U.S. forward Dylan Larkin said. “Just an unbelievable hockey game.”

It was the United States’ first win against Canada in a best-on-best international tournament since the preliminary round of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics on Feb. 21, 2010.

Larkin had a goal and an assist, and Connor Hellebuyck made 25 saves for the U.S., which leads the tournament standings with six points (2-0-0-0) because of two regulation wins, including 6-1 against Finland on Thursday.

And, given that Larkin told ESPN’s Emily Kaplan that he just wanted to be a good teammate, work hard and have fun, this is pretty cool:

The U.S. took a 2-1 lead at 13:33 of the second period, when Larkin got loose on a 2-on-1 with Miller, kept the puck and scored with a blocker-side shot from the right circle.

Larkin said he could see his father celebrating in the stands after he scored. His family was sitting up from the corner where he was celebrating on the ice.

“I got to see my dad jump up,” Larkin said. “Honestly, just probably one of the more special goals of my career.”

Hockey world, meet Dylan Larkin. Pleased to meet you.

Update: A 2:01 AM timestamp accompanies Sportsnet’s Emily Sadler’s post-game notebook:

Dylan Larkin: 9/10
After playing just 11:14 as a fourth-line winger against the Finns, Larkin centred Team USA’s third line on Saturday night and brought a spark — not to mention, some net-front grit we’re not used to seeing from the Red Wings captain. In addition to muddying up Binnington’s kitchen early and often in an attempt to throw the Canadian netminder off his game, Larkin scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal on a perfect snap shot after speeding down the wing. He also dished up a well-placed pass to Jake Guentzel, who put one in the back of Canada’s empty net late in the third.

You’re not used to seeing him take cross-checks from the Drew Doughtys of the world while playing in the bumper or net-front position on the power play? Man, you haven’t watched many Red Wings games this season. The young man has grit.

Also, from NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti…

“We came here to try to win the championship,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “We feel like we’ve got a good team. We believe in this group. We think we’ve got a terrific hockey team. Having said that, so does Canada, and Sweden and Finland. So, as we’ve said to our players all along, nothing’s inevitable in this game.

“The greatest thing about our sport is you’ve got to earn it every night and that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to earn it every single day.”

The U.S. players have done that by putting their egos aside and accepting whatever role is asked of them. Larkin is a perfect example.

A first-line player that plays on the power play for the Detroit Red Wings, Larkin began this tournament on the fourth line for the U.S. and has not played on the power play. Larkin moved up to center the third line against Canada and scored the biggest goal of the tournament so far.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the group to this point,” Sullivan said. “They’ve been incredibly receptive of the coaching staff and the things that we’ve been trying to introduce to them and how we’re trying to play. … Every guy in the conversations that I’ve had with them — and I’ve had a lot of them with a lot of our guys over the last four, five days about roles and how we’re trying to deploy these guys — and their response to a man has been, ‘Whatever it takes coach. Whatever it takes. We just want to win.’”

And Nicholas J. Cotsonika:

And after Dylan Larkin gave the United States a 2-1 lead at 13:33 of the second, the Americans frustrated the Canadians’ attack until Guentzel iced the game with an empty-net goal at 18:41 of the third.

“That was one of the best experiences of my life,” Larkin said. “Just an unbelievable hockey game. I hope you guys feel the same way. The start, the guys, the Tkachuk brothers and ‘Millsy,’ what a start, and credit to those guys for answering the bell. You know, the crowd, just a great night for our sport and a great night for this rivalry. Can’t wait to get back to Boston and get on home soil.”

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George Malik

My name is George Malik, and I'm the Malik Report's editor/blogger/poster. I have been blogging about the Red Wings since 2006, and have worked with MLive and Kukla's Korner. Thank you for reading!

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