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Larkin is back as Detroit faces the Ducks |
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Dylan Larkin is back. There has been a mix of confidence and concern from the comments section of
the previous blog entry. Admittedly, I’m among the concerned.
However, full disclosure for those who don’t know, I’ve been on disability since 2016 due to a closed head injury. The graphic image of Larkin in a face down snow angel formation, unconscious on the ice was traumatizing. It was a trigger that took me back to a very difficult transition in life. After meeting with closed head injury specialists from 2 hospitals, 2 neurology clinics and multiple therapists specializing in trauma and PTSD, the risk of recurrance grows exponentially with each injury. There’s also no single path of recovery and Larkin may have been exceptionally blessed and/or lucky in how the injury was sustained.
That said, there is no doubt he steers the ship. The Red Wings’ captain is like human caffeine for the roster and has an infectious love and commitment to the team and the game. There is a hope that his minutes are somewhat “protected” and for sure that the team is ready to step in if they see anyone trying to take liberties during the game.
The records for Anaheim and Detroit (11-19-0 and 15-11-4) are cast aside for this. Two straight games of a team that had been number 2 in scoring producing 1 total goal as players are making their way back almost feels like a reboot. Perron is the final piece that is missing. His experience and physicality, along with his contributions on the power play in terms of puck movement are missed.
This Detroit team needs to score early and possibly multiple times early on. The uphill climb of being behind is a mental drain especially against teams that are built for the 2-1 or 1-0 game in terms of being able to shut down the neutral zone and muck up the offense. Players start overthinking and it leads to poor decision making at times.
In all honesty, there will be some anxiety in seeing how Larkin is deployed and how the opposition approaches a player who has come back from injury. If this were the ducks of the Getzlaf and Perry era of their highest levels of play, I’d hold him out. Anaheim had a physicality which (like most teams) doesn’t exist at the same level in the modern league.
Regardless of everything, Detroit has to reverse some of the steps backward and try to maintain a higher level of goaltending. There’s a lot to watch as the team nears its intended lineup. Let me know your thoughts on what to look for and what you hope to see tonight in the comments.
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