Dylan Larkin, James van Riemsdyk, Todd McLellan Post Game Comments @ NJD | Nov. 24, 2025

Dylan Larkin, James van Riemsdyk, Todd McLellan Post Game Comments @ NJD | Nov. 24, 2025

you guys had a chance there at the end. We kind of had a little bit of frustr frustration there. I would think we had a we had a really good chance to to win that hockey game and we uh we pushed and made it 4-3 and and um pushed hard and we had a lot of looks. We just didn’t uh didn’t bury the the tire and and get it to overtime and um feel like we replay that period again, we we um we have a better outcome tonight. I I I believe that that was a that was a pretty solid um period where we were putting our our foot on the gas pedal. JVR talked about the physicality you guys showed in standing up for each other. Is that something that you can carry over from this one? Yeah, I think so. They’re going to take liberties. We got to push back and um you know, a little bit there six on five. They’re trying to bait us into taking a penalty and and uh kind of icing the game that way and and then they just uh you know, they took liberties I guess. uh you know, our guy takes one early in the game and and we we um he stands up for it and um you know, they don’t do the same. So, it is what it is and and I thought we showed good composure and still had a lot of looks there uh at the end. You think there was a turning point or anything like that, Dylan? I think after the first period, we we started to play play our our game. I don’t think there was a a turning point. It was um a hockey game where they had their chances. We had their we had ours and I felt the the second half of the game we tilted the ice and and uh and you know we we had uh the majority of the play we just uh um you know maybe early put ourselves in too big of a hole just seeing JVR score how good would that feel for him you think? Yeah it’s a special Yeah. Yeah. Um you know I think any line that he plays on he’s he’s he’s very valuable to that line. he sets up the play and and uh you know he has a great uh feeling for the game and and uh setting up his line in the offensive zone and winning board battles and getting pucks to the middle. I think six on five there even he he’s set up uh you know three or four of us and and had looks. So um you know any anytime he’s out there I think he’s he’s just such a a great veteran presence where he he uh he gets the puck and and and settles it down and makes plays. It was great to see him score in a in a great milestone game for him. Did you think you tied it there late? It looked like you were about to raise your hands and stuff in the last minute, I think it was, or so chances. You guys were really close there. Yeah. Thanks, JBR. Physical battle out there. How did you assess tonight’s game short? Um, I thought it was good that we stuck together as a team. I think it was definitely a hard fought game. Two good teams. Um yeah, obviously again uh I think tempers raised a little bit at the end there, but obviously we were going to stick together as a team if we feel like we didn’t like uh the play that was made a little bit earlier in the period there. So uh we’re just going to try to stick together as a team. What do you think the turning point was? Is this two goals late in the first? I mean all of a sudden it’s a twogoal game right there. Um yeah. I mean I don’t know. Hard to say. I guess maybe that. But I think I liked how we just kept playing and stuck with it. And that’s that consistency I think we need to find. and uh just more of a shift to shift uh period to period, game to game. I think uh we we’ve got we’ve got it in us and I think the more we kind of find that uh consistent execution like that, I think we’ll be in really good shape. Is that kind of the key from the last couple games here when you guys are trailing is execution early on and not allowing those goals? Yeah, I mean for sure. I think uh obviously that’s what the name of the game game is. Obviously uh executing in your uh areas on the ice and and different situational play and stuff like that. I think we’ve done done done a lot of good in that area, but I think we can definitely be a little bit uh more consistent and um that’ll give us uh again every night uh a chance to to win games. Had it feel good to score that goal tonight? Yeah, for sure. I’ve definitely felt a little bit uh snake bit uh productivity wise. So, always nice to get one. Obviously would have preferred it in a in a win, but um yeah. How tough has it been? I mean, just the fact missing has missing training camp been a little bit of a factor. Um no, I mean, I’m not going to use that as an excuse. I think at this point too, for sure. I think finally uh you get some more of the rhythm of the game and stuff like that. I think obviously just trying to do my job and what I’m meas far as just playing with really good details and uh managing games well um being strong on the boards with the puck, getting pucks out, things like that. And then obviously chipping it in offensively. So um obviously would love to have a little bit more um production. So uh hopefully I can get on a little bit of a roll. What would you assess today? Well, there’s probably going to be a lot of talk about what we uh didn’t get um or didn’t find down the stretch, but in my opinion, it’s what we gave up and it was uh there was too much free, especially early in the game. I I look at the first goal and there’s a very simple sort out at our net. We messed that up. Obviously, the breakout uh on the fourth one, we messed that one up and uh three is enough to win in this league. So, um, give the guys credit for sticking with it and fighting back and and maybe we did deserve better, but we can’t give up, uh, um, goals for free and we did tonight. Those just mental lapses or I I don’t know. Uh, I can sit here and pretend I know. Uh, but they’re, you know, the breakout at the one at at the end with hammer. I don’t know if the puck popped up on them or or did something there, but we got to be able to handle that. And uh couple short outs net front where we don’t communicate and um yeah, so I don’t have the answers. There’s a physical game tonight. Was that kind of what this group was expecting going in against the Devils? They seem to bring a physical game, too. No. Um they skate they skate real fast. They transition well. I think the emotions got going because everything was tight and close at the end. uh you know there’s a couple heavy hits um you know so uh I think that’s where that came from but they play a fast game is what they do tie the game up one up and then they’ve got those two quick ones right at right before the first period ends early in the game but boy that’s that’s kind of tough to Oh it is deficit right there to come back and it’s going to happen sometimes but it’s how you give them up and as we talked earlier the uh the the freebies are um you know they’re killers at the end of the night. If a team really earns it and has uh done what it needs to do, you got to live with that and move on. But um yeah, the goals that you guys scored some rebound chances some in front. I guess is that what you’re looking to see more from this group in terms of the offense? Yes, it is. Uh we’ve put a lot of time and energy into that. Um yet I thought down the stretch we had some real good looks at the net uh with probably the right people having it on their tape even that last face off and and we couldn’t quite get it done but um uh we’ve created the chances which is a good thing. Good to see JVR again. Yeah, I thought he played really well tonight um really well and and he’s doing what we brought him here to do get get that front and he’s got real good hands in that area so I thought he had a good night. Do you think he’s been a little snake bit? Yeah, a little bit. Been coming on a little bit. A little bit. Um, you know, and we we see him come on. He got a few more minutes tonight, so perhaps that gets him going a bit more. So, uh, but he’s coming on. Tell you didn’t see the hit on the miss. Uh, no. They he told me he saw it. So, yeah. Okay.

Dylan Larkin, James van Riemsdyk, and Todd McLellan speak with the media following Detroit game against the New Jersey Devils on Monday November 24, 2025.