Brady Tkachuk spent the past two weeks patting fellow U.S. Olympian Dylan Larkin on the back and Thursday night he will looking to crush him through the boards.<\/p>\n
Welcome back to NHL competition where the U.S. brotherhood will give way to the NHL pressure to make the playoffs.<\/p>\n
Now that Larkin has helped USA win an Olympic gold medal, his focus will be on ending the Red Wings\u2019 nine-year playoff drought. That starts Thursday when the Red Wings play the Atlantic Division rival Ottawa Senators. Tkachuk is usually a monstrous force when the Red Wings and Senators square off.<\/p>\n
It will be fascinating Thursday to see how Larkin and Tkachuk react to one another.<\/p>\n
The Red Wings, meanwhile, have 72 points with 24 games remaining. Last year, 91 points earned a wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. If that standard is repeated, the Red Wings need to go 9-14-1 to get in. Some projections have 95 points required to qualify this season. That would require Detroit to go 11-12-1 to make it. The fun starts Thursday 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
Red Wings In Case You Missed It<\/p>\n
Red Wings prospects Carter Bear<\/a> and Rudy Guimond have led their junior team to the top two spots in the CHL Poll. Bear\u2019s Everett Silvertips are No. 1.<\/p>\n Detroit\u2019s 1970 first-round draft pick Serge Lajeunesse<\/a> has died at 75.<\/p>\n Ex-Red Wings player Tomas Tatar <\/a>broke down in tears after Slovakia lost in bronze medal game.<\/p>\n Red Wings Extra<\/p>\n Buffalo native Patrick Kane hoped he would be on the 2026, but injuries undermined his chances. But he still celebrated the American gold medal.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a moment for USA Hockey,\u201d Kane said after Monday\u2019s practice. It\u2019s obviously been a long time coming since 1980, and just the way the game went, it seemed like everything was kind of going Canada\u2019s way. And Hellebuyck played great, made some great saves. Canada obviously had their opportunities and just obviously ecstatic for a lot of those guys that I know that were on the team, the Hughes brothers, obviously Larks. And just the excitement level that those guys are having is. I\u2019m sure it\u2019s an incredible feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n Kane echoed the celebration of Larkin\u2019s strong play.<\/p>\n \u201cJust the way he played in 4 Nations (last season) and Olympics, obviously really fit into his role really well there and played some great hockey. I think that\u2019s probably the guy I\u2019m most happy for. Just his love and appreciation of USA Hockey. And not only that, but as a Red Wings teammate, too, and what he brings to the organization and how much he cares. I don\u2019t think there\u2019s anyone more deserving than him.\u201d<\/p>\n Detroit\u2019s Andrew Copp is a former Hellebuyck teammate and he had special praise for the fellow Michigan native.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m glad he had his moment,\u201d Copp said. \u201cHe\u2019s pretty much the best American goalie ever.\u201d<\/p>\n Hockey Now Digest<\/p>\n Florida: Urgent Panthers don\u2019t have luxury to ease Olympians back into the NHL schedule. Florida Panthers.<\/a><\/p>\n Philadelphia: William James has a take on who the Flyers should target to acquire before the March 6 NHL trade deadline. Philadelphia Flyers.<\/a><\/p>\n