Detroit – Red Wings players and coaches are like everyone else in the hockey world.
Everyone is getting up early Sunday morning to watch USA and Canada in the gold medal game at the Winter Olympics.
The anticipation in the Wings’ locker room was growing, just like everywhere else, for a game that’s been long anticipated. The fact that Wings captain and Waterford native Dylan Larkin has been a key figure for Team USA makes it doubly special for Wings teammates, the state of Michigan, and legions of Wings’ fans.
“(It’ll) go down as ‘The Game,’ it’ll be known as that,” said coach Todd McLellan, who feels this will have more impact even than last year’s incredible final between the two countries in the 4 Nations Face-Off. “The 4 Nations is one thing but this is complete world involvement and it’s a rematch, so it’s exciting. We’ll be watching and hoping Larks the best and rooting for different teams.”
Both Canada and USA had tricky paths this week in the elimination round, but both survived, leading to Sunday’s final.
The multitude of NHL stars on both teams make it a dream matchup.
“This is what everyone had kind of been looking forward to, starting with last year at the 4 Nations,” said goaltender Cam Talbot, an Ontario native. “It’s been building to this gold medal game. It’s nice to see it actually happen.
“Hopefully, Canada can pull it off.”
Canada has won the last four best-on-best tournaments, including last year’s 4 Nations. It has won the last two Olympics, which have included NHL players, and three of the last four (Sweden, 2006). Canada defeated the U.S. for the gold in both 2002 (Salt Lake City) and 2010 (Vancouver).
The U.S. hasn’t won a best-on-best tournament since 1996 in the World Cup, defeating Canada.
“It’s been a long time since the U.S. has won a best on best, so I’ll be cheering for them, and Larks,” said Patrick Kane, who was part of the U.S. 2010 and 2014 teams. “What those guys are doing will inspire a lot of kids and younger children growing up to play hockey and be part of something special. It’s a great opportunity for them and hopefully they’ll get the job done.”
The USA and Canada hockey rivalry has grown to incredible levels over the years.
“The proximity to each other, the intermingling of players crossing the boarder and playing in junior and college, it’s probably the biggest rivalry now,” McLellan said. “It was Canada and Russia, but unfortunately (Russia) hasn’t been involved and it has lost some of its luster.”
Talbot believes a key for Canada will be to get off to a good start.
“Both teams have great depth, so whoever gets off to a good start will be able to lock you down,” Talbot said. “But no lead is safe, you’ve seen that time and again through this tournament, and the elimination round. It’s been a heck of a tournament.”
Everyone around the Wings will be pulling for Larkin, who has scored key goals in the last two USA victories and been a motivating, driving presence.
“He’s been flying and been one of the more impressive players, in my eyes,” Kane said. “It’s good to see him get the kind of recognition nationally and world-wide. He deserves it. We know, in here, what a great teammate is and how much he cares.”
McLellan said Lucas Raymond (Sweden) and Moritz Seider (Germany) will be returning to Detroit and could be involved in Tuesday’s practice, but Larkin’s availability for practice is a bit more cloudy.
“I spoke to him once through the tournament, and he’s feeling good and he’s in a good place (mentally), but there’s a big, emotional game (Sunday) and they’ll have to travel and get back, so we’ll see (about Larkin’s first Wings’ practice).”
@tkulfan
