The Detroit Red Wings will escape Washington with two points and their captain’s availability intact. Dylan Larkin has avoided a suspension and was instead given a $5,000 fine—the maximum allowable under the CBA—for his cross-check on T.J. Oshie last night.
Larkin was given a five-minute major and game misconduct for the play, which happened partway through the first period. Missing more than two periods likely impacted the decision, though the Red Wings were still able to fight off the Capitals for a 3-1 win, thanks to two unassisted goals from Pius Suter.
Whether intentional or not, Larkin delivered a forceful blow directly to the face of Oshie as he tried to slow him down coming out of the zone. He is rather fortunate to escape without at least a one-game ban, especially given the important match tomorrow against the New York Rangers.
Detroit is in a race for one of the wildcard positions in the Eastern Conference and sit just two games behind the Florida Panthers with four games in hand. If they can continue their recent hot streak—the Red Wings are winners of seven of their last ten—they have a chance of making the playoffs this season. Larkin, with 56 points in 55 games, is a big part of that.
The incident ended a pretty significant streak, too. Larkin had scored seven goals and 13 points over a seven-game point streak going into the game against Washington but had it snapped when he played just 2:54 before exiting.
Whew, that’s a relief! Wings are playing good hockey now and hopefully they’ll be able to keep it up a make the playoffs. Also makes Yzerman’s deadline plan more difficult as will be be a seller or a buyer next week????
One of the weakest calls I’ve witnessed in recent years. No intent, no injury, in fact Oshie was out next shift no problem. This is one of the NHL’s downfalls, constant micro managing a game that can’t be micro managed. Ruins most of the games to one degree or another.
Um…Larkin was looking right at him and cross-checked him in the jaw. How can you say there was no intent? This is not a case where a player ducked or fell and a stick that was aimed for the back ended up hitting the neck. Larkin’s stick was head height the whole time. What part of Oshie’s body did he expect to hit?
It only hit him in the jaw cuz Oshie was bringing his stick up, so when Larkin went to hit Oshie, his stick rode Oshies stick up and into his face rather than chest
@VonDooche, you are correct. I watched it again and slowed the video down. Larkin was aiming lower. Thanks.
If that happened TO Larkin you would go ape shiz so calm down.
I’d be funny if Larkin got a suspension especially considering he almost got his head chopped off by Benn’s cross check right to the neck.
This is where the NHL gets really annoying. Larkin clearly saw Oshie from the corner of his eye and thought Oshie’s stick was coming up. It was a reflex. Benn tried to break his stick over Larkin’s neck and no fine, no major, not even a 10 minute misconduct. I don’t mind the penalty. As a fan I just want to see Benn get the same in game penalty plus AT LEAST a 5 game suspension for intentional injury.