Dylan Larkin 'feels good' but remains game-time decision for Red Wings tonight
· Yahoo Sports
Detroit — Dylan Larkin skated again Tuesday during the morning skate, appeared to be preparing to play later in the evening against Ottawa, and looked excited about rejoining the Red Wings in the hunt for a playoff spot.
But after missing the last seven games with a lower-body injury, Larkin stopped just short of saying after the morning skate he was back in the lineup.
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"I still have to see how today goes, it's still a game-time decision," said Larkin, the Wings' captain. "But I feel good and have made real good progress. I'm trying anything I can to get back.
"Missing time isn't ideal. But as much hockey as I've played, and the minutes I play, it seems to come back pretty quick anytime I've missed time. I've had a couple of good practices, a couple of good skates on my own, and I feel conditioning isn't a factor."
Larkin has basically been in a day-to-day availability for the past few days, with coach Todd McLellan growing more optimistic daily. McLellan liked the way Larkin moved around the last two days.
"He's looked good in practice," said McLellan, who agreed Larkin was a game-time decision. "That being said, practice and games are way different at this time of year. The physicality in practice isn't as high as it was in November. You're trying to conserve energy, but he's found ways to be physically involved in practice and get himself ready.
"We'll know more at game time."
The fact Larkin played at the Winter Olympics in February, and was involved in high level and emotional games there, could help him in this return to the lineup.
"He's well-conditioned, strong, has experience and he has confidence," McLellan said. "He's dealt with injuries in the past and knows the impact he can does have on the team. There's no reason why he can't come back and be effective and he's expecting that and so are we."
The Wings were 3-3-1 in the seven games without Larkin, and have fallen one point outside of the playoff cut line.
But Larkin has been inspired by the way the Wings' have fought during March, which has been a troublesome month the last three years and largely cost the Wings' a playoff berth.
"Being out, and watching the group, watching the guys, these guys have been battling hard," Larkin said. "Driesy (Sheldon Dries) coming in and Shiner (Dominik Shine) coming in and they've played well and hard. That (four-game) road trip, I watched from up top and was so impressed with how they stuck together and every play seemed like it was the biggest play of the season.
"Anytime you're out, it's hard to watch, stressful, but like I said, I'm proud of the way the guys have played and battled and they're in the fight. It's inspiring to come back and join them in how they've been battling."
Despite being nudged out of the playoff picture, Larkin feels the Wings can control their destiny going forward.
"It's not where we were two months ago (near the top of the conference), but it's where we are and we've been here (before)," Larkin said. "We're not going to get in with 84 points (current position). No one is going to get into the playoffs with 84 points. We have to keep winning and getting as many points as we can.
"It was like this a few years ago, but it is what it is and we have to take care of business. I've sat here and spoke to you guys at this time of year about how we have to care of what we can control and control our own destiny. We can control our destiny still and I just hope we can capitalize on some of these chances and not get to the point where our destiny isn't in our control."
Larkin was hurt when he fell awkwardly on his right leg against Florida on March 6, the night of the trade deadline.
"It was very frustrating," Larkin said. "You hear the noise about this time of year (the Wings' bad Marches) and to have it happen when it did, it was frustrating. I was really down about it. But teammates lifted me up and that's why we play a team sport."
Other items from Tuesday:
▶ McLellan said forward Michael Rasmussen (lower-body), who has missed the last four games, is still another seven-to-10 days before being ready to get back on the ice.
▶McLellan said goaltender John Gibson will get the start against Ottawa. It was Gibson's 24th start in the last 29 games.
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Dylan Larkin remains a game-time decision for Detroit Red Wings