Larkin Turns Boos to Cheers With Goal and Assist as Red Wings Edge Senators for First Win

Dylan Larkin has had a complicated few months in Detroit. The former captain requested a trade, missed the season's first two games with an upper-body injury, and was greeted with jeers from his own fans when he finally returned to the ice on Tuesday night. By the end of the evening, the Little Caesars Arena crowd was cheering instead. Larkin scored a goal and added an assist in his season debut as the Red Wings defeated the Ottawa Senators 5-3, notching their first victory of the campaign. The embattled forward's return gave Detroit an emotional lift, and he wasted no time reminding the home crowd what he can do at his best. Alex DeBrincat led the offense with two goals and an assist, while Viktor Arvidsson contributed a goal and an assist and Justin Faulk also found the net. Lucas Raymond set up three goals, and John Gibson made 22 saves to steady the crease. Ottawa kept the pressure on throughout, with Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson and William Eklund each recording a goal and an assist, but Samuel Ersson's 31 saves were not enough to keep the Senators in it late. Detroit snapped its early-season skid and gave its frustrated fanbase something positive to latch onto — starting with the redemption arc of their returning leader.