What a debut! Larkin scores, Abdelkader gets hat trick
Detroit — The hometown — or home state — boys stole the spotlight Friday at the Red Wings’ regular-season home opener.
Justin Abdelkader (Muskegon/Michigan State) scored three goals and Dylan Larkin (Waterford/Michigan) had a goal and assist as the Red Wings overpowered the Maple Leafs, 4-0.
Goaltender Jimmy Howard stopped 22 shots as the Red Wings controlled the game for lengthy stretches and sent an overjoyed, sellout crowd home happy.
“The energy was awesome,” said coach Jeff Blashill, who won his NHL debut behind the bench. “I’ve been in this building on some pretty cool nights but this was awesome. The energy was incredible, obviously a good rivalry with Toronto helps, but it was real cool.”
The hometown heroics from Abdelkader and Larkin — captain Henrik Zetterberg assisted on three of the goals on his 35th birthday — stole some thunder from the regular-season debut of Blashill (himself from Sault Ste. Marie and played and coached in Michigan) and the return of former Red Wings coach Mike Babcock to Joe Louis Arena.
BOX SCORE: Red Wings 4, Maple Leafs 0
“There’s a good feeling all the way around,” Abdelkader said. “Overall we played a great game. We didn’t give them a whole lot. It was a good win for us and we build off that game.”
With Blashill, Abdelkader, Larkin, Danny DeKeyser (Macomb/Western Michigan), Drew Miller (East Lansing/Michigan State) and Luke Glendening (East Grand Rapids/Michigan) there’s a definite local flavor to this Red Wings team.
“It’s great for the fans, good story lines, all of us with a connection to college hockey, which is big,” Abdelkader said. “When I first came to the team, being a Michigan-born player was out of the norm. Now it’s more of the norm with five guys and the coach.”
Scoring three goals on Opening Night, coming off a career-best scoring season, Abdelkader continues to play at the level Blashill expects from the former Spartans star.
“I felt coming into the season this is what Abby was, what he did last year, that’s what Abby is,” Blashill said. “A real good player who has enough years under his belt where he’s entering (the prime of his career), more offensive opportunities, and the result is you saw those goals he scored last year and he has started on the right track.”
Babcock spent the last 10 seasons coaching the Red Wings — winning a Stanley Cup in 2008 and taking the Red Wings to the playoffs each of those 10 seasons — and received an ovation from the sellout crowd at Joe Louis Arena during the first interview with a video tribute.
Babcock acknowledged the applauses with a wave and thank you.
Abdelkader acknowledged it was nice to earn the victory against the former coach.
“Obviously there’s pride but it’s hockey and business and people move on and go to different places,” Abdelkader said. “We can turn the page now. It felt good to win but now it’s just the Toronto Maple Leafs and not the Toronto Maple Leafs and Babs.”
Larkin, 19, drew one of the largest ovations from the JLA crowd in pregame introductions — only Zetterberg and the injured Pavel Datsyuk received more passionate responses — and played a memorable game in his NHL debut.
Larkin’s first NHL point came at the 8:20 mark of the first period, assisting on Abdelkader’s second goal. Larkin kept control of the puck along the boards and fired a centering pass to Abdelkader in the slot.
Twenty seconds into the second period, Larkin netted his first NHL goal.
Larkin beat Bernier short side, just over his right shoulder — and there wasn’t much room — bringing down thunderous applause from the JLA crowd.
“It must be a great feeling,” Howard said of Larkin’s evening. “First game, 19 years old, and he’s just showing you the tip of the iceberg. He has a bright future in front of him.”
Howard, too, enjoyed an effective evening, making several big stops when the Maple Leafs might have rallied.
“When your goalie does what he does and doesn’t give them any sniff at all, it allows you to continue to build a lead, which we were able to do,” Blashill said.
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