Red Wings sound off on potential Dylan Larkin suspension

It was an absolutely crazy game last night at Little Caesars Arena between the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning and the Detroit Red Wings, a contest that would eventually see the visitors overcome a three goal deficit twice en route to a stunning 7-6 overtime win. 

The Red Wings were led by a superhuman performance from forward Tyler Bertuzzi, who scored four goals on the night and became the third Red Wings forward since 2011 to accomplish the feat, joining the likes of Anthony Mantha and Jakub Vrana. 

However, one of the bigger stories that was lost in the midst of all the chaotic scoring was Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin's retaliatory punch on Lightning forward Mathieu Joseph, who had just hit him from behind.

Larkin arose, clearly agitated, and immediately swung at Joseph's head as he skated by, setting off a brief melee on the ice. Larkin would not return to the game, as he was assessed a match penalty. Per League rules, the NHL automatically reviews every match penalty, and has scheduled a hearing with Larkin for his actions. 

But the Red Wings don't believe that he deserves a suspension. 

“Dylan is coming off what he’s coming off with the injury, and he gets hit from behind into the boards so he’s going to be upset. At best, I thought they were probably both two-minute penalties. But that’s the way they called it," explained head coach Jeff Blashill after the game. 

He continued: “A punch with a glove on? Maybe I’m old-school. I don’t think I am. There’s lots of punches without gloves on. I think it’s way different if a guy hits a guy with his glove off than with his glove on.

"I’d be surprised, but I’m not the NHL.”

The Red Wings clearly missed Larkin in the third period, as he had to watch the Lightning mount a furious comeback to eventually steal the two points. Prior to his having been removed from the game, Larkin opened the scoring in the 1st period by banging home a loose puck behind goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. 

"The league will look at it," Bertuzzi said of Larkin. "He’s a big part of this team, and we missed him.