The news wasn’t all bad for the Detroit Red Wings today, as several names were removed from their COVID-19 protocol list. And while several key names remain on the list for now, captain Dylan Larkin is happy to be back in action at practice.
“First and foremost it’s good to be back,” he said. “It’s good to have more and more guys show up every day it seems, that they’re feeling well most importantly. The mood is that we’ve been through it with a lot of positive cases. Hopefully we can move on from it and it won’t be a problem anymore.”
Of course, Detroit’s last game was a 5-2 triumph over the New Jersey Devils that included Larkin’s first career hat trick. They would have liked to have continued playing with that momentum, but the NHL pausing of the schedule took away any chance of that.
“We had a great win at home there before the shutdown and I think it kind of, I guess, took away the momentum but we have to find it against the Islanders,” he said. Hopefully we play them….hopefully we find out momentum because we need to focus on a strong second half and get our minds back to the game and back to work.”
As of right now, Detroit’s game against the Islanders on Wednesday is still on, though should it be played, both teams will be shorthanded. But that’s not something that the teams can control. According to Larkin, you just have to deal with whatever comes your way.
“For myself, I feel that having a positive attitude about it and whatever happens, happens,” he said. “You just deal with it. You can’t dwell on how many guys are missing or what could happen. You just have to be ready to play.”
– – Quotes via Detroit Red Wings Link – –