Dylan Larkin's season-opener began with a goal and ended with an ejection. And it might be a few games before he takes the ice again.
The Red Wings captain was tossed in the second period Thursday night against the Lightning for sucker punching Tampa forward Mathieu Joseph after Joseph slammed Larkin into the boards from behind. Lightning defenseman Jan Rutta then took a run at Larkin, but was intercepted and dragged down by a flying Tyler Bertuzzi.
Larkin's response was understandable, especially in his first game back from a neck injury. But it won't buy him any points from the NHL's department of player safety. He's likely looking at suspension, perhaps multiple games.
Jeff Blashill downplayed the offense, calling it "a punch with a glove on."
"I don't know, maybe I'm old school. I don't think I am. There's lots of punches without a glove on. I think it's way different if a guy hits a guy with his glove off than his glove on. To me, I'd be surprised (if it led to a suspension), but I'm not the NHL," Blashill said.
The Red Wings actually emerged from the chaos with a power play, during which Bertuzzi scored his third goal of the game for an opening night hat trick that put Detroit up 4-1. He'd add a fourth goal in the third, but the Lightning would rally to win in overtime, 7-6.