The Daily: This is Not Last Season’s Red Wings; Larkin’s Place in History

Any resemblance between this season’s Detroit Red Wings and last season’s group is purely coincidental.  This is a different team with a different attitude and approach.

The Red Wings are fifth in team scoring, compared to 24th last season. Starting goalie Alex Lyon boasts a .928 save percentage, unlike last season’s goalie group that owned save percentages  below .900. Bob Duff story last night points out the Red Wings have a different attitude this season when it comes to making sure they don’t lose games they should win this season. That’s been crucial to their recent success.

Detroit is 8-2-1 in its last 11. This has put the team in the thick of the playoff race.

Another change is Klim Kostin adds toughness they lacked last season. When tempers were rising in Thursday’s Philadelphia-Detroit game, Kostin dropped the gloves for a fight against Nicolas Deslauriers.

“I think we came together as a team,” Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider said. “We have a big frontrunner in Klim there. He’s not scared of anyone in this league. He gave us a boost a little bit in that game today. He told us we shouldn’t be scared of anyone out there. I think that’s a great message we should take forward.”

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Ville Husso (lower body injury) is now in Grand Rapids on a conditioning stint. He hasn’t played an NHL game since Dec. 18
• Alex Lyon’s composure is a key part of Detroit’s efforts to make the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
• The Red Wings have a unique connection the Detroit Lions’ last NFL championship in 1957.
• Paywall story: At 39, former Red Wings player Valtteri Filppula is still relevant in European hockey.

Red Wings Next Game

A surging Vegas Golden Knights team is next up for the Red Wings. The Golden Knights are 5-0-1 in their last six and will present a formidable test for the Detroit squad when they arrive Saturday night (8 p.m. ET). Detroit (8-2-1 in its last 11) has its own surge going on. Captain Dylan Larkin is leading the charge. Larkin extended his point streak to 10 straight games (7-6-13 in 10 GP) with a goal Thursday against Philadelphia.This is the third streak of 10 or more games in his career. Larkin also authored a 10-game point streak from Jan. 29-March 1, 2022 (7-11-18 in 10 games) and a 14-game point streak from Dec. 4-31, 2018 (7-10-17 in 14 games). Larkin became the eighth player in Red Wings history to record at least three 10-game point streaks, joining Steve Yzerman
(12 times), Gordie Howe (seven times), John Ogrodnick (four times), Ted Lindsay (four times), Pavel Datsyuk (four times), Sergei Fedorov (four times), and Norm Ullman (three times).  Larkin has recorded 27 points (15-12-27) in 25 games dating back to Nov. 22 vs. New Jersey.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: Jake DeBrusk says he wants to stay in Boston and win a Stanley Cup. Boston Bruins.

Chicago: The Chicago Blackhawks tied a franchise record with their 19th consecutive road loss.

Nashville: The Nashville Predators have a decision to make about Denis Gurianov.

Pittsburgh: The Pittsburgh Penguins say they’ve been “horse(bleep).” What they want most of all is to bring consistency to their game.