Dylan Larkin recorded his first career hat trick and added an assist, leading the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night, handing New Jersey their fifth consecutive loss.
“It felt great. I’d never had one before,” said Larkin, the Red Wings’ captain. “I think about my nana (grandmother) — she always gave me $5 for every goal and expected me to get a hat trick. I kept telling her it wasn’t that easy.”
Larkin made it look easy on Saturday, with home fans showering the rink with hats before the second period ended. However, he plans to give the puck from his third goal to rookie Kyle Criscuolo, who assisted.
“I’m giving that one to Crisky because it’s a huge deal for him to get his first NHL point, and he did a great job setting me up,” Larkin said. “He definitely deserves it.”
Tyler Bertuzzi scored twice for Detroit, while Thomas Greiss made 32 saves.
Michael McLeod and Dawson Mercer scored for New Jersey, with Akira Schmid stopping 26 shots in his second career start.
Larkin scored the opening goal with 4:21 remaining in the first period. Filip Hronek sent the puck into the New Jersey zone, bouncing off the endboard. Schmid left the net to retrieve it, but the puck bounced toward the crease, giving Larkin an open net.
McLeod tied the game with less than a minute left in the first period, lifting a shot past Greiss’ right shoulder.
“Greisser kept us in the game for the first 10 minutes because we weren’t playing the way we wanted to, but we corrected it after the first period,” said assistant coach Doug Houda, who filled in for Jeff Blashill after the head coach was placed in COVID protocol on Saturday. “We got better in the second period and much better in the third.”
Larkin completed his hat trick in the second period. He scored from the slot with 8:12 left and followed Bertuzzi’s first goal with his team-high 15th on a breakaway with 4:13 remaining, making it 4-1.
Mercer scored a short-handed goal to cut Detroit’s lead to 4-2 before the period ended. Bertuzzi scored his 12th goal with 5:53 remaining in the game.
Devils coach Lindy Ruff emphasized the need for better performance from his top players.
“Our top guys were the ones that hurt us,” he said. “Our bottom forwards gave us a good night. They were great on the kill, scored the first goal, and a short-handed goal. Our top guys must be harder to play against, be tougher on the puck, and win more battles.”
Ruff also took responsibility for the team’s struggles.
“We don’t have many options right now due to injuries and illness. We still have to try and win games,” he said. “That’s on me. It’s my responsibility to ensure the team plays well.”
UNDERMANNED UNITS
Both teams were affected by a wave of positive COVID tests around the league.
Detroit learned on Saturday that it would be without Blashill and top goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic. Along with forwards Givani Smith, Carter Rowney, Filip Zadina, and assistant coach Alex Tanguay, they were placed in COVID protocol. The Red Wings already had forwards Robby Fabbri and Michael Rasmussen on the COVID list.
The Devils placed defenseman P.K. Subban in COVID protocol. Defensemen Ryan Graves, Christian Jaros, forward Nico Hischier, and Jesper Boqvist were already on the protocol list. The team also had no goalie Mackenzie Blackwood (neck) and forward Jesper Bratt (non-COVID illness).
“It’s unfair to our team and fans that we have to play with a limited roster,” Ruff said.
GAME NOTES
New Jersey has allowed four or more goals in 15 games this season. … The Red Wings recalled goaltender Calvin Pickard and forwarded Riley Barber to replenish the roster. Ben Simon, the head coach of Detroit’s AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids, ran the team in Blashill’s absence. … The teams will complete the three-game series with two games in April.
UP NEXT
- Devils: Host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday.
- Red Wings: Visit the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.
