Larkin Leading Red Wings Over All 200 Feet of the Rink
15 games into the season, Dylan Larkin is just shy of a 50-goal pace, but his impact for the Red Wings extends beyond his production
With nine goals in 15 games to open the season, Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin is on a 49-goal pace over 82 games. It's a team high in goals and tracking for a career high, but Larkin's early season impact extends well beyond his production.
Detroit's power play has been central to keeping the Red Wings afloat (such that they are) through the season's early stages, with Larkin's decisiveness from the bumper spot central to that success. Six of his nine goals have come on the power play, and while that does mean consistent five-on-five production has been a bit more difficult to come by; it's also the precise production that's kept Detroit viable during a trying start to the season.
"When we find a quality game like this, since I've been here, it's usually driven by Dylan," coach Derek Lalonde said of his captain after Detroit's 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres at the start of the month. On that occasion, Lalonde was referring to two power play goals Larkin delivered that evening, but that sentiment can also apply to his work on the opposite side of the puck.
On Wednesday night in Pittsburgh, the Penguins outshot Detroit 15-10 at five-on-five when Sidney Crosby was one the ice. However, when Crosby was on the ice against Dylan Larkin (as was the case for more than half of his five-on-five ice time), the Red Wings had an 8-4 edge in shots. That defensive success hints that a consistent match-up role might be a valuable path forward for Detroit, as the Red Wings look to find a more sustainable five-on-five game.
For more on Larkin's 200-foot impact, check out my thoughts in the featured video above.
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