The Detroit Red Wings might miss their captain for one or more games, depending on how the NHL assessed the action he performed against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Wings forward Dylan Larkin delivered a headshot to Maple Leafs defenseman Marshall Rifai during Thursday night’s preseason game with both teams meeting again on Saturday.
The hit occurred late in the third period as Rifai attempted to clear the puck. Larkin was handed a minor penalty for an illegal check to the head.
The incident comes at a time when the NHL is cracking down on dangerous plays, and the Department of Player Safety is expected to take a closer look at the hit.
Despite the danger the hit carried with it, Rifai managed to stay in the game, logging nearly 20 minutes of ice time, blocking four shots and registering one shot on goal.
This fact may play into Larkin’s favor, potentially reducing the chances of a suspension and leading to a fine instead, considering he didn’t cause an injury.
The Leafs went on to beat the Wings 2-0, pushing Toronto to a 3-1-1 record in the preseason, with their final matchup coming on Saturday in a rematch.
Larkin’s hit is the latest in a series of questionable plays that have begun to shape his reputation on the ice.
Although Rifai wasn’t injured, the NHL’s decision will hinge on the nature of the hit, and the league’s focus on player safety could still result in a suspension for Larkin, such as the one blasted on Tampa Bay Lightning’s Conor Geekieearlier this week.
