On Thursday night, Dylan Larkin made his first start as captain of the Detroit Red Wings but he did not make it through the full game as he was slammed headfirst into the boards by Mathieu Joseph of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Following the hit, Larkin popped right up and punched Joseph in the head/neck area before heading to the locker room to get checked out for injury. Larkin was then ejected from the game for his actions.
On Friday, Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill spoke to the media and he said he feels “pissed off” for Larkin that he feels like he needs to defend himself.
Larkin is scheduled to meet with the NHL today to find out if he is suspended.
Blashill added that he will be disappointed if Larkin is suspended but he understands where the Red Wings captain is coming from.
“I’ll be disappointed depending on how this comes out, but I know where Larks is coming from,” Blashill said to reporters.
“He gets up, there’s no penalty called, again I think at that point he’s thinking that we have to police ourselves out here,” Blashill said. “I think Larks would tell you that he’d like to take that back, that really what he was trying to do was get his attention to fight him. But personally we’d like to be in a position where it’s just a penalty on the original hit and then I don’t know if anything happens.”
Jeff Blashill says he feels "pissed off" for Dylan Larkin that he feels he has to defend himself for hit. No penalty on Joseph for hitting Larkin right "in the numbers" into the boards. Larkin couldn't practice today. Coming off neck injury in April.
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) October 15, 2021
Jeff Blashill on Larkin situation: “I’ll be disappointed depending on how this comes out, but I know where Larks is coming from.” #LGRW @DetroitRedWings
— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) October 15, 2021
Blashill on Larkin reaction to hit from behind: “He gets up, there’s no penalty called, again I think at that point he’s thinking that we have to police ourselves out here. … I think Larks would tell you that he’d like to take that back, that really what he was trying… (1/2)
— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) October 15, 2021
…to do was get his attention to fight him. But personally we’d like to be in a position where it’s just a penalty on the original hit and then I don’t know if anything happens.”
Cited Larkin’s season ending & spending 8 weeks in cervical collar on Benn cross check w/no penalty
— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) October 15, 2021
