Dylan Larkin remains Detroit Red Wings’ brightest star in dark season

DETROIT, MI – Dylan Larkin didn’t want to talk about himself, which is part of what makes him the player he is, the top rebuilding block for the Detroit Red Wings.

He matched his career high in goals during Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center, scoring No. 23 of the season on a wraparound. It was his third point the last two games, after he sat out a contest with a strained oblique.

“I think first of all with Dylan, it is his compete level every night,” fellow center Frans Nielsen said. “He rarely gets outworked out there, and that’s how you stay consistent in this league. If you compete like him, you are going to be OK even on bad days. He skates with the best in this league and has a good shot. He’s coming into a complete player.

“Nine out of 10 games, he’s our best player. You don’t see that a lot, but again, when you compete like him, even on bad days, you’re going to have good things happen out there.”