CALGARY, Alberta — Dylan Larkin netted his 23rd goal of the season, while Cam Talbot performed admirably with 33 saves against his former team as the Detroit Red Wings triumphed over the Calgary Flames with a score of 3-1 on Saturday night. This victory marks the fifth straight win for the Red Wings.
In addition to Larkin, Simon Edvinsson and Andrew Copp also contributed goals for Detroit, bringing them to within just one point of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Since taking over as head coach of the Red Wings on December 26, Todd McLellan has recorded an impressive 13 wins, 4 losses, and 1 overtime loss.
For the Flames, Nazem Kadri managed to score during a power play, helping Calgary sit one point ahead of Vancouver in the race for the second wild card in the Western Conference. Talbot has showcased a solid performance, having earned wins in his last three outings, and boasts an impressive record of nine wins out of his last ten games, bringing his season’s total to 15 wins and 10 losses.
Rookie Dustin Wolf, in goal for Calgary for the 11th time in the past 13 games, turned away 22 shots but ultimately dropped to a record of 19 wins and 9 losses. The scoring began in the first period with goals from Larkin and Edvinsson. Kadri managed to narrow the deficit to 2-1 at 8:34 in the third period, but Copp secured the victory with an empty-net goal late in the game.
Takeaways from the game include Dominik Shine, who assisted on Larkin’s goal, marking his first NHL point in just his third career game. The undrafted player from Detroit had previously been playing in the AHL with Grand Rapids since the 2016-17 season. On the Flames’ side, newcomers Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee made their debuts after being traded from Philadelphia, although neither were able to contribute to the score tally for Calgary, which currently ranks 28th in the league with 135 goals.
A key moment in the game occurred when Detroit, struggling with the league’s worst penalty kill, allowed Kadri’s power-play goal off their first penalty of the match. However, Larkin’s second penalty moments later provided the Red Wings with a crucial opportunity to kill the penalty, allowing them to maintain their slim lead.
Another significant stat reflects Larkin’s current performance; after a 15-game drought without a goal, he has now scored 11 times in the last 16 games. If he continues at this pace, he could potentially reach 36 goals this season, surpassing his previous career-high of 33 established in the last season.
Looking ahead, the Red Wings are set to face the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday, while the Flames will be visiting the Seattle Kraken.
