Austin Konenski
The Detroit Red Wings must figure out how to survive part of the playoff push without Dylan Larkin. Detroit will be without Larkin for at least two weeks due to a lower-body injury, as said by head coach Todd McLellan. Larkin left Detroit’s game against the Florida Panthers on Friday, March 6 after his leg buckled awkwardly.
It has been a tough week without the star forward, as Detroit lost in a heartbreaking fashion against Florida on Tuesday. The Red Wings were up by one goal in the third period, but allowed two in the final moments of the game. Now, Detroit sits in the first Wild Card spot with the Tampa Bay Lightning up next.
The Reds Wings are three points above the Columbus Blue Jackets, which is the first team out of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Luckily, Columbus has played one less game, so it can’t catch Detroit if they win while the team is idle. Unfortunately, the Red Wings have a brutal schedule over the next two weeks.
Detroit Red Wings at risk of missing playoffs without Dylan Larkin
If Larkin misses exactly two weeks, he would return for Detroit’s game against the Buffalo Sabres on March 27. However, the 29-year-old star would miss six more games, and the schedule is not pretty. Detroit plays Tampa on Thursday, March 12 before competing against the Dallas Stars on Saturday night.
Then, Detroit comes back to face the Calgary Flames, which should be a winnable game. The Red Wings then play the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, and Ottawa Senators before Buffalo. Those are three teams that are in the middle of the fight for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
It isn’t hard to see why Detroit is at risk of falling out of the playoffs without Larkin. Tampa and Dallas are among the NHL’s top teams, while Montreal, Boston, and Ottawa are around Detroit in the Eastern Conference. This is a very pivotal six-to-seven game stretch for the Red Wings.
Detroit’s schedule lightens up a little bit after Buffalo, but the team is missing its heart and soul throughout this stretch. It means that other players, such as Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond, must step up in his absence. It won’t be easy, but Detroit’s playoff life is on the line now.
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