Detroit Red Wings suffer playoff knockout again as Dylan Larkin calls out the player who caused their defeat

The Detroit Red Wings suffered another devastating blow on Saturday night as they were officially eliminated from Stanley Cup playoff contention after a 5-3 defeat to the New Jersey Devils.

The loss saw Detroit surrender three separate leads, sealing a 10th consecutive season without a playoff appearance—an unwanted NHL record for the franchise in recent years.

After the game, captain Dylan Larkin faced media questions about what went wrong. Taking responsibility, he admitted fault for a key moment that led to a crucial goal against, saying the mistake was entirely on him for being caught out of position during a defensive pinch.

Larkin, who has spent his entire career with the Red Wings during this prolonged playoff drought, was visibly frustrated and struggled to explain the team’s repeated late-season collapse. He acknowledged that he could not clearly identify a single reason for their struggles in March, instead focusing on the costly error in the game.

Pressed further on Detroit’s ongoing inability to perform under pressure, Larkin admitted there was no easy explanation, pointing to recurring late-season mistakes by different players. He conceded that the team had repeatedly fallen short when games tighten and stakes rise, despite ongoing internal discussions and adjustments.

He also reacted emotionally to the fan response after the game, as supporters voiced their frustration by booing the team off the ice.

Larkin summed up the disappointment bluntly, admitting that the pattern has continued year after year, with the Red Wings once again failing to meet expectations when it matters most.