Three Takeaways from Detroit Red Wings Win over Chicago

The Detroit Red Wings faced the Chicago Blackhawks tonight in what could be considered the first game of the post-Dylan Larkin ERA. It was a chaotic day, to say the least, as reports surfaced that Larkin planned to sit out until the Red Wings traded him. Detroit then suspended him without pay, meaning he will remain away from the team without receiving his salary until a trade happens.

Despite everything happening off the ice, there was still a game to play. The Red Wings came away with a convincing 4-1 win over the Blackhawks. Here are some takeaways from what I saw.

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A Different Energy From the Red Wings

The Red Wings seemed to have a different edge tonight. That’s not to say they haven’t shown it throughout the season, but this team has dealt with several hiccups.

Detroit opened the season with Larkin sidelined by an injury after dealing with so many issues throughout the offseason. Then Larkin returned, and on Monday night, you could see the limited emotion from him after tying the game. Meanwhile, the rest of the players on the ice almost seemed confused.

Maybe that was the turning point. Maybe someone said something behind closed doors. Who knows? None of us were in the locker room, but Detroit came out tonight looking like a team that was starting to gel with one major issue no longer hanging over its head.

This is a new era of Red Wings hockey. Obviously, Larkin hasn’t been traded yet, so nobody knows exactly how things will look moving forward. There will be bad games and plenty of challenges, but this is a team I can get used to watching and covering if there is finally a clear vision in place.

John Gibson Looks Solid in Red Wings Net

Gibson returned to the Red Wings’ net after backing up on Monday night, and he delivered a solid bounce-back performance.

Following Monday’s game, conversations among Red Wings fans started about whether it was time to trade Gibson and move forward with Daniil Tarasov and Michal Postava. Postava’s time will come, and the glimpse we saw from him on Monday was encouraging. However, I still feel comfortable with Gibson in net.

Again, things aren’t always going to be pretty this season, but Gibson showed last season what he can bring to Detroit. Tonight, he stopped 18 of the 19 shots he faced to help secure the 4-1 victory.

Viktor Arvidsson Makes His Presence Felt With Hat Trick

Over the offseason, the Red Wings let Patrick Kane walk, and he eventually signed with the Blackhawks. Tonight marked Kane’s return to Little Caesars Arena, where he received a nice tribute.

However, it was his replacement who stole the show.

Viktor Arvidsson has found his place with Detroit, and tonight he had a night to remember. He contributed to all four Red Wings goals, finishing with a hat trick and an assist. It was the sixth hat trick of his NHL career as he continues to impress in Detroit.

Arvidsson has brought a different presence to the Red Wings lineup, and performances like this show just how important he can be moving forward.

Next Up:

The Red Wings return to action Saturday afternoon when the St. Louis Blues visit Little Caesars Arena.

Will Detroit complete a trade before then? Who knows. There are still plenty of questions surrounding this team, and the Red Wings will face hurdles throughout the season.

However, this group feels watchable and intriguing again. If the players can put the situation behind them and continue coming together as a team, it will be interesting to see how much they can accomplish as the season progresses.