Special to The Detroit News
Detroit — Detroit Red Wings fans entered Little Caesars Arena on Saturday night wondering what their team, reshuffled by COVID-19 protocol roster and coaching subtractions in the morning, would look and play like.
Captain Dylan Larkin answered any fears the faithful might have had, scoring his first career hat trick and sparking a 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils.
Larkin, extending his team-high total to 15 goals, gathered the puck at mid-ice on a pass from Kyle Criscuolo and skated in hard and fast to beat goalie Akira Schmid low and stick side before punching the air twice with his gloved right hand.