The Red Wings head into Tuesday night’s Senators Vs Red Wings matchup with the biggest question centred on Dylan Larkin, who remains a game-time decision for the first meeting of the season at Little Caesars Arena.
Detroit host the Senators at 7 p.m. ET still looking for their first win of the season, while Ottawa arrive on the second night of a road back-to-back. It adds up to a useful early test for a game that already carries a sharper edge than a normal regular-season meeting.
McLellan leaves Larkin's status open
Larkin skated on the top line during Tuesday morning skate, which is usually the sort of sign that keeps hope alive. But Todd McLellan was careful not to go beyond that, saying it “looks that way right now” while adding that Larkin has “one more hurdle to cross.”
McLellan made the situation simple enough: “If he’s cleared, he’s playing, and if he isn’t, then he won’t.” That leaves Detroit waiting on a late call, with the coach also noting that the Red Wings have to make sure the lineup is set up properly whether Larkin goes or not.
Why Larkin matters so much
McLellan’s explanation underlined just how important Larkin is to what Detroit want to do. “You look at special teams – our power play is different with (Larkin) in the lineup,” he said. “The pace that he can play with is different than what it was, because when he's healthy and when he does play, he plays a fast, long game.”
He also pointed to the little details that swing games. “He's arguably our best faceoff guy, so we've got the puck more. He does penalty kill. He plays in all situations, so when he's playing his best, he's an effective player.”
That is why Tuesday feels more than just a standard early-season check-in. If Larkin is cleared, he changes the look of the Red Wings straight away. If not, Detroit have to find another way to manage a physical opponent without one of their most important all-situations players.
A fast, physical first meeting
Alex DeBrincat set the tone for what Detroit expect from the Senators. “We just got to play fast and be ready for them,” he said. “They’re a fast team and have a lot of skill, so we got to be ready for what they’re going to bring us and give it back to them. And hopefully, put a couple into the back of the net.”
That is a fair summary of how this Atlantic Division rivalry has developed in recent seasons. The meetings have grown chippy and physical, and with the teams not facing each other again until Feb. 25, 2027, this first one has a little extra weight.
Detroit's lineup puzzle
McLellan also hinted that the Red Wings may have to adjust their structure depending on the final health picture. “We've got to figure that part out,” he said. “If we go 11-7, we have one extra option. If we go 12-6, then we've got to figure out what the back end looks like. So, I can't confirm anything for you right now.”
Marco Kasper, Mason Appleton and J.T. Compher are already unavailable or limited, which makes the decision around Larkin even more important. Detroit have enough to compete, but the shape of the lineup could matter just as much as the names in it.
The Red Wings do at least know the assignment: handle a fast Senators team, protect their own pace, and try to find the first win of the season. Whether Larkin is part of that plan will not be known until late, but the impact of his availability is obvious enough already.
