Dylan Larkin faced a hostile reception from Detroit Red Wings fans before responding with his play on the ice.
Larkin returned to the lineup Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators after missing Detroit’s first two games with an upper-body injury.
The veteran forward was booed when he touched the puck during his first shift. However, the mood inside Little Caesars Arena changed fast.
Larkin scored in the first period to give Detroit a 2-1 lead. He later assisted on another goal as the Red Wings earned a 5-3 victory.
After the game, Larkin addressed the difficult reception and admitted he expected the response from the home crowd.
“Yeah, I mean, I was ready for it on the home opener,” Larkin said. “And it’s part of it, and I’m trying to be a man and face it. And I understand why that’s happening.”
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Larkin requested a trade during the offseason, leading Detroit to strip him of the captaincy before the season.
The decision created a difficult relationship between Larkin and the fanbase. He was also booed during player introductions before Detroit’s home opener while sitting out with his injury.
Despite the tension, Larkin said he planned to let his performance speak for itself.
“Again, like I said to you guys at the start of the season, I was gonna try and show up with my play,” Larkin said. “And it was nice to be out there with the guys and get a win.”
That approach paid off against Ottawa. Larkin finished with a goal and an assist while helping Detroit secure its first victory of the season.
The response to his goal was also noticeably different from the earlier boos. Fans celebrated as Larkin helped give the Red Wings control of the game.
Detroit will now look to build on the win when it hosts the Seattle Kraken on Friday.
The trade situation remains unresolved for Larkin right now. However, his first game back showed he can still make an impact despite the difficult relationship with Detroit supporters.
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