Red Wings' Larkin Sparks Crucial Win with Hat Trick

Detroit captain's big night keeps playoff hopes alive with 3 games left

Apr. 10, 2026 at 4:53am

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An extreme close-up of a hockey player scoring a goal, with the player's face and jersey details dissolving into a vibrant, expressionist painting of neon colors and rapid brushstrokes, capturing the raw energy and movement of the moment.Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin's hat trick sparks a crucial win, keeping Detroit's playoff hopes alive in the final stretch of the season.Today in Detroit

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin scored a hat trick in a crucial 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, keeping the Red Wings' playoff hopes alive. The Red Wings are three points behind the Ottawa Senators for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with three games left in the regular season.

Why it matters

The Red Wings are fighting to end their nine-year playoff drought, the longest in franchise history. Making the playoffs would be a major milestone for the team and its fans, who have endured a long rebuild. Larkin, the only current Red Wings player with playoff experience, is leading the charge to get the team back to the postseason.

The details

Larkin scored three goals, including a power-play goal and a short-handed goal, to give the Red Wings a 4-1 lead. The Flyers cut the deficit to 4-2, but the Red Wings responded with two more goals to seal the victory. Defenseman Moritz Seider tied a franchise record with five points in the game.

  • The Red Wings are three points behind the Ottawa Senators for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with three games remaining.
  • Larkin's hat trick was his first since April 2, 2023, in a win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The players

Dylan Larkin

The 29-year-old Red Wings captain, who is the only current player on the roster with playoff experience, scored a hat trick to keep Detroit's postseason hopes alive.

Moritz Seider

The Red Wings defenseman tied a franchise record with five points in the game, recording one goal and four assists.

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What they’re saying

“'Let's keep fighting for our lives'”

— Dylan Larkin, Red Wings Captain

“'Clearly, he's skating better. Larkin could separate from checkers and had more pop in his shot, because he had more power in his legs.'”

— Todd McLellan, Red Wings Head Coach

What’s next

The Red Wings will finish the regular season by hosting the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, then visiting the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday and the Florida Panthers on Wednesday. They need to continue winning to have a chance at clinching the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The takeaway

Larkin's heroics have given the Red Wings a glimmer of hope in their quest to end their nine-year playoff drought. The team will need continued strong performances from its captain and supporting cast to overcome the odds and secure a postseason berth in the final days of the regular season.