A lively crowd and a captain’s row of former greats heralded the Detroit Red Wings’ opening night.
All started well as Dylan Larkin scored, delighting fans that crowded into Little Caesars Arena on a rainy Thursday night to see the Wings take on the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning. It was the first time since the pandemic shuttered the NHL in March 2020 that a full house had been possible.
The Wings fed on the energy, but their lack of discipline dissolved their lead to a tie in regulation. The Lightning owned the puck in overtime, and Ondrej Palat secured a 7-6 victory with his second goal of the game.