Red Wings' Dylan Larkin Vents Frustration After Senators Loss Amid Playoff Race

The Red Wings' playoff hopes took a hit with the loss to the Senators.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 4:56am

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Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin expressed his frustration after the team's 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators, a crucial game in the tight Eastern Conference wild-card playoff race. The Red Wings outshot the Senators 34-31, but Ottawa scored the first three goals before Detroit mounted a late comeback attempt.

Why it matters

The Red Wings are in a tight battle with the Senators, Boston Bruins, and New York Islanders for the two wild-card playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. This loss was a missed opportunity for Detroit to gain ground on their rivals and strengthen their postseason position.

The details

The Red Wings fell behind 3-0 before getting goals from Dominik Shine and Larkin, who was returning from a multi-game absence. Despite outshooting the Senators, Detroit was unable to complete the comeback. The loss was particularly frustrating for Larkin and the Red Wings, who had fared well against Ottawa earlier in the season.

  • The game took place on Tuesday, March 25, 2026.
  • The Red Wings also lost a crucial game to the Boston Bruins on Saturday, March 22, 2026.

The players

Dylan Larkin

A forward for the Detroit Red Wings who expressed frustration after the team's loss to the Senators.

Dominik Shine

A Red Wings player who scored one of the team's two goals in the loss.

Ottawa Senators

The opposing team that defeated the Red Wings, scoring the first three goals of the game.

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What they’re saying

“The room is mad. The guys are mad. That was a big game for our hockey team and unfortunate how well we played against those guys all year. And then this one tonight, it kind of wipes away our record against those guys because that was a big game.”

— Dylan Larkin, Red Wings Forward

What’s next

The Red Wings will look to get back on track on Friday, March 29, 2026, when they take on the Buffalo Sabres.

The takeaway

This loss was a significant setback for the Red Wings in their pursuit of a playoff spot, and it highlighted the frustration within the team as they try to keep pace with their wild-card rivals in the Eastern Conference.