MONTREAL – Dylan Larkin was able to find his dad pretty easily.
“He has the whitest hair,” Larkin said.
So, when Larkin continued the puck in two rushes to beat Team USA and Canada's one tie late in the second half of Saturday night's second season, he had no problems finding Father Kevin. There were none.
“They were sitting on that corner,” Larkin said. “As I celebrated, I looked up. They were right there.”
It is not an exaggeration to say that the goals that existed as game winners in the final 3-1 Team USA victory had the biggest goal of Larkin's career.
The University of Michigan Products and Career Red Wing played in just five postseason games in all postseason games when Detroit descended to Tampa Bay in five games.
Up until this tournament, the biggest game he played was behind last season. The Red Wings were fighting for the playoff berth.
So it's not surprising that Larkin shined after this.
It wasn't the biggest game of his career as it was for almost everyone on both rosters. It was the biggest game of his career – in a long shot.
“It was a great moment for American hockey and tonight I was thinking about kids watching the game,” he said. “Work ethics, competition, what is the message that guys block shots. I want kids to see as I was a child and wear that jersey for the next generation. I hope for it.”
Larkin was prominent in this one early stage with his opening game against Finland, but missed the chance for a few years.
He passed the previous 2-1 and tried to feed Matt Boldy to the feed that he couldn't connect first.
Then, second, he hit a post for what looked like an open net.
So when the third try came late in the second with another oddman rush, Larkin wasn't going to waste it.
“The next one will be the net,” Larkin said. “I think I can set that goal. My family jumped up and I could see one of the more special goals of my career.”
