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The Ottawa Senators do have a knack for knocking the Detroit Red Wings off the rails. They were able to do it again Saturday at Little Caesars Arena via a decisive 5-1 victory.
It was a night that was frightening from a Detroit point of view as much for what was happening on the ice as it was for how the final scoreboard was reading.
During the first period, there was a terrifying moment as Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin lay face down and motionless on the ice in front of the Ottawa net, clearly unconcious.
Exactly what was the outcome that was resulting in Larkin losing consciousness was somewhat unclear. Certainly, it can be said beyodn a shadow of a doubt that none of this scenario ends up unfolding with the launching point. That came when Ottawa forward and Larkin nemesis Mathieu Joseph was punching Larkin in the back of the head with his right gloved hand.
Dylan Larkin skated off the ice on his own power after a taking a hit from Parker Kelly pic.twitter.com/760klYQhL1
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) December 10, 2023
This action sent Larkin spiraling downward into the oncoming Parker Kelly. From one angle, it was appearing as it Kelly’s glove wound up striking Larkin in the face.
Scary Situation for Red Wings Larkin
What is known for sure is that for several unsettling moments, the Detroit captain was out cold. A stretcher was wheeled to the ice while medical personnel were tending to Larkin.
“I think it’s scary for everyone in the rink, when you see someone unconscious,” Detroit defenseman Ben Chiarot said. “Hard to watch, especially when it’s your friend and captain. Scary for his family when you see somebody down like that.
“A lot of emotions.”
The best news on the night was that Larkin would regain conscious and groggily skate off the ice with assistance from teammates. His status going forward is unclear. The Red Wings were offering no updates on Larkin’s condition.
“For him to become conscious and not have to go out on the stretcher, I think that was a big lift for everyone and a better feel for the extent of the injury,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said.
History Between Larkin, Joseph
It’s not the first time that Larkin and Joseph have wound up clashing. In the season opener for the 2021-22 campaign, Larkin was returning from a season-ending neck injury. Joseph was playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning that night. He wound up checking Larkin from behind, sending the Detroit captain tumbling head-first into the boards.
I am wishing all the best for Dylan Larkin, and hoping that it is far less serious than it looks.
But I am seeing a lot of takes as if this clip doesn't exist. pic.twitter.com/QNCeMA4ky2
— Gulk (@realgulk) December 10, 2023
An angry Larkin arose and immediately punched Joseph in the face. That action wound up earning Larkin a match penalty and one-game suspension from the NHL.
Wheels Coming Off Red Wings Machine
A Detroit squad that was on a 6-1 roll since returning from Sweden is now 0-1-1 in the last two. The Red Wings have lost the plot defensively, allowing 11 goals in the past two games and 18 goals over the last four contests.
Lately, the Wings are getting away from the game that wins for them, an aggressive pressure forecheck. They are sitting back and letting teams come at them.
“We’re not a good team when we do that,” Chiarot said. “We need to be aggressive, we need to be taking time and space away. That’s when we’re successful and when we’re not doing that, that’s when we give up goals.
“That’s just the way it’s been lately. We need to show some maturity and some growth and play the same way no matter the score.”
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Chicago Blackhawks reportedly set to trade 25-year-old goaltender to Stars rival, Edmonton Oilers
Maple Leafs are reportedly looking to make a splash trade
With the Toronto Maple Leafs losing star Mitch Marner this offseason, the team has had to fill a massive hole in the lineup. The Toronto front office has done a decent job so far, and the roster looks a little more well-rounded. But it seems that the Maple Leafs may not be done making moves this summer. According to NHL insider Nick Kypreos of SportsNet, Toronto could trade away defensemen Morgan Rielly or Brandon Carlo in an attempt to add more offense. "While we do also have Morgan Rielly on this list, if the Leafs move a defenseman it'll likely only be one of them. But while Rielly comes with the complication of a no-movement clause, Brandon Carlo has just an eight-team no-trade list and so is also worth putting on the trade board. "Making $3.485M against the cap for another two years, Carlo was a welcome addition to the Leafs' defense corps, averaging 19:13 of ice time per game and nearly two minutes on the PK. In the playoffs, he was among the team's shot-blocking leaders," Kypreos wrote. Marner accounted for 27 goals and 75 assists last season, which will be very tough for the Maple Leafs to replace. But the team does have a limited number of tradable assets to work with, which could potentially be why they are thinking of trading a defender. The Toronto front office remains very active on the trade front and it could lead to a deal taking place. There is still plenty of time left between now and the start of the regular season, giving the Maple Leafs some needed optionality before the new year.
WNBA All-Star Game ratings paint a troubling picture
WNBA players sent a message to the league with T-shirts they wore ahead of the All-Star Game on Saturday night, but the ratings for the game did not exactly strengthen their stance. Prior to the All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., Caitlin Clark and other players warmed up in shirts that said “Pay us what you owe us” across the front. The message had to do with the current state of collective bargaining agreement negotiations between the WNBA and WNBA Player’s Association. Unfortunately for the players, the television ratings for the game were not very good. Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports reported on Tuesday that the WNBA All-Star Game drew 2.19 million viewers on ABC, which was down roughly 36% from a year ago. Last year’s game featured the WNBA All-Stars against the Team USA squad that was preparing to compete in the Summer Olympics in Paris. The dip in ratings is likely another example of the type of impact Clark has had on the WNBA. Although she was a team captain for this year’s All-Star Game, Clark did not play due to a groin injury. Clark played in last year’s game for the All-Star side, as she did not make the Team USA Olympic roster. Many fans were outraged that she was snubbed from the Olympic team, which added an element of intrigue to the All-Star Game. There is no way of knowing for certain whether more fans would have watched the All-Star Game on Saturday night had Clark played. It is a safe guess, however, especially when you look at some recent trends for the league.
Matthew Stafford news highlights potential need for Rams
Matthew Stafford's latest injury raises concerns about the depth of the Los Angeles Rams' quarterback room. Stafford suffered a back injury last season, and it's bothering him again at training camp. Rams head coach Sean McVay said the medical concern will force the QB to miss five practices, but it's not season-ending. "He's been throwing, feeling good. It's not necessarily anything that's new. Something that he's dealt with before," the coach told the media. "Going into year 17, we were going to take a modified approach with him, kind of similar to what we did in the offseason program. And so we'll allow him to kind of just work off to the side, on his own, getting himself feeling as good as possible." Stafford's durability has already been waning. The 37-year-old QB missed eight games because of a spine injury and concussion during the 2022 season. The following season, he missed one game because of a right thumb injury. The Rams have a capable backup QB, Jimmy Garoppolo. He has a 43-21 starting record in the regular season in 11 years with the San Francisco 49ers, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots and Rams. Garoppolo, however, is injury-prone. He has battled foot, ankle, knee and shoulder issues over the course of his career. Rams QB Stetson Bennett — a fourth-rounder in the 2023 NFL Draft — has yet to throw a pass in a regular-season game. Plenty of solid free-agent QBs are still available, including one-time Pro Bowler Carson Wentz. He would be a more trustworthy option than Bennett and already knows the Rams' system. The 2016 first-rounder played for the team during the 2023 season. The Rams hope to win their third Super Bowl after consecutive playoff appearances. Injuries at the most important position could derail their aspirations. McVay doesn't seem too concerned about Stafford's health, but L.A. should still consider adding another QB as a precaution.
Caleb Williams wants to do something no Bears QB has ever done
There is an expectation that Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is going to take a big leap forward in Year 2 of his career. He is not only looking for a big step forward, he is looking to re-write the Bears' franchise record books. Williams said on Tuesday that one of his goals for this season is to become the first 4,000-yard passer in Bears history, while also completing more than 70% of his passes. “Obviously I have self goals, and that’s being the first 4,000-yard passer in Bears history.” Williams said. “That’s a goal of mine. Seventy percent completion helps the team, keeps us on the field, puts us in better positions, and then other than that just trying to go down and score the most points that we can with each drive that we have. That’s kinda my self goal and obviously, other than that, you gotta go win. That’s success for me, that’s success for the team, and that’s all we wish for and all I wish for.” Williams arrived in Chicago with huge expectations prior to the 2024 season after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick. The hope was always that he could finally give the team a franchise quarterback that could put it on a Super Bowl contending level. His rookie season had some ups and downs, but it was easy to see the talent and potential. It was also easy to dream on him if you are a Bears fans given some of the plays he made. He ultimately threw for 3,541 yards, completed 62.5% of his passes and threw 20 touchdown passes to only five interceptions. He is not only entering Year 2 with a full season of NFL play under his belt, the Bears have also surrounded him with playmakers at every position and given him a young, innovative head coach in Ben Johnson. Johnson was one of the masterminds behind the Detroit Lions' offense, and there is an expectation that he can do the same thing with the Bears given the young quarterback and talent around him. The Bears have never had a 4,000-yard passer in franchise history, and Williams certainly seems to have a strong chance of achieving it. If not this season, then certainly at some point in his career. The single-season franchise record is 3,838 yards set by Erik Kramer during the 1995 season. If Williams can get 4,000 yards and complete of 70% of his passes — as he wants to do — there is a good chance the Bears offense would be one of the best in football. It would also probably mean they win way more than the five games they did during the 2024 season.
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