With his team leading 3-1 in the third period, Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, already with two goals on the night, unleashed a powerful wrist shot from the high slot.

It eluded Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner, but rang off the goalpost behind him.

At almost the exact moment of that clang of disappointment, an overzealous Red Wings fan tossed their hat on the ice.

Forgive them for their transgression of hockey culture. Celebratory moments have been few and far between for the Hockeytown faithful this past decade.

No, there wouldn’t be a hat-trick for the captain on Sunday. But there would be cause for celebration regardless.

With a 4-2 decision over the Oilers, the 5-1 Red Wings have now won five games in a row.

And in this success story, it’s as much about how they’re doing it and who they are doing it against that is about as remarkable as the fact that they are doing it at all.

Already this season, they’ve beaten the Florida Panthers and the Oilers, the two teams that have battled in the Stanley Cup final the past two springs. The Wings have two wins over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team that Leafs fans will tell you is going to win the Cup every year.

Red Wings Developing An Identity

“We’re developing an identity,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said.

As is often the case, finding their way to the right path forward did not come without first enduring a painful life lesson.

On opening night, Montreal put a 5-1 pounding on Detroit.

“You know, maybe the two-by-four across the forehead against Montreal was exactly what we needed,” McLellan said. “Now, in retrospect, we didn’t want it at the time. None of us were happy, but maybe it just put us back to where we needed to be, and hockey became real.”

Since that moment, the Red Wings have been playing like they are the real deal.

“We’ve won it many different ways,” McLellan said. “I think everybody’s playing to their strengths. The goaltenders are giving us a chance to win each night. We’re not giving up 40, 45 shots against, which certainly helps.

Penalty kill’s improved a little bit. And when all that happens, you get a little more confident. And when you get confident, you make fewer mistakes, and you have a chance to score a bit more. I think that’s where we’re at.”

Captain Sees Further Areas For Growth

Larkin sees similar traits evolving in the team.

Yeah, very important,” Larkin said. “You know, I think you gotta win in different ways.”

Perhaps even more significantly, he’s identifying other aspects that the team could tap into for further growth.

While Axel Sandin Pellikka (one) and Emmitt Finnie (two) each scored their first NHL goals in the past two games, fellow rookie Michale Brandsegg-Nygard is still looking to get on the board. Alex DeBrincat, Detroit’s top goal scorer last season with 39, remains without a goal this season.

“With Brands, the puck’s gonna go in for him,” Larkin said. “The puck’s gonna go in for Cat, and we know when it does, he’s gonna catch fire.

“And our power play. We didn’t even get one tonight, but that will help, too.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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