In a deflating loss to the Florida Panthers, the Detroit Red Wings also found themselves without their stalwart captain for the conclusion of the 3-1 decision on home ice. Dylan Larkin went down on a non-contact injury late in the third period after losing his footing while trying to set up a game tying shot on Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
Larkin looked to have caught his own foot before crumpling to the ground, staying there for a few moments before eventually getting off ice under his own power. He did not return to finish the game, exiting with about nine minutes left in the game.
The Detroit captain is currently third on the team in points, tallying an assist earlier in the game on Detroit's lone goal March 6th, bringing his total up to 55 on the season. Larkin also has 28 goals this season, which sits only behind Alex DeBrincat, who has 33 including the one from tonight's game. Coach Todd McLellan only had a brief update postgame, telling reporters that the initial findings did not seem to indicate Larkin being out long term.
Detroit's already thin top six could take a major hit as they head down the home stretch before the playoffs if Larkin's injury is more serious than initially believed, however.
The Red Wings only added one forward at the trade deadline and have been cycling through a mixture of J.T. Compher and Michael Rasmussen on the top line opposite Lucas Raymond of late after having rookie Emmitt Finnie man the spot for most of the first half of the season. The lack of an available "next man up" for Larkin emphasizes the team's need to further improve after the trade deadline.