Flashback: Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin torches the Devils with 1st hat trick

Back on the ice Friday afternoon are the Detroit Red Wings, who host the New Jersey Devils for an afternoon game at Little Caesars Arena (3:00 PM, FanDuel Sports Detroit, ESPN+, 97.1 The Ticket).

One player to watch for the Red Wings this afternoon is Dylan Larkin, who is already on pace to reach a new career-high in goals scored with 45.

Just over three years ago in December 2021, Larkin netted his 1st career hat trick against the Devils, and the hats rained down onto the ice from excited fans.

Now-former Red Wing Tyler Bertuzzi also scored twice for Detroit.

The Red Wings won that game despite missing six players and then-head coach Jeff Blashill, all of whom were dealing with a positive Covid-19 test.

Larkin said there was uncertainty as to whether the game would be able to be played, but that he and his teammates stuck with it and earned the two points.

That day, the Red Wings were missing Alex Nedeljkovic, Filip Zadina, Robby Fabbri, Michael Rasmussen, Givani Smith and Carter Rowney; only Rasmussen remains a member of the team today.

Blashill and assistant coach Alex Tanguay were also unavailable; now-former Grand Grapids Griffins head coach Ben Simon served as acting head coach in his absence.