What Happened
Montreal Canadiens fans chanted 'We want Larkin' at the Bell Centre before and during Saturday's game against the Detroit Red Wings, per Sportsnet. The Canadiens won 1-0 in a shootout, with Zachary Bolduc scoring the only goal and Jacob Fowler making 36 saves. Montreal moved to 2-2-1 and Detroit dropped to 1-3-1. Larkin, Detroit's captain, said he never imagined such a chant in that building and called it the best atmosphere in hockey.
Key Details
- Chants began before puck drop and grew louder during the game.
- Bolduc scored the lone shootout goal; Fowler stopped 36 shots.
- Montreal sits at 2-2-1; Detroit is 1-3-1.
- Montreal was not on Larkin's trade list submitted to Steve Yzerman.
- Larkin reportedly later added Dallas, Washington, Colorado and Tampa as destinations.
- Larkin said he refocused on the game after a few seconds.
What It Means
The chants add fan-driven pressure to an already unsettled situation in Detroit, where Larkin's trade request hangs over the season. Montreal was not among the destinations Larkin submitted, so the crowd's message does not reflect any reported change in his stance. Detroit coach Todd McLellan said the team has shielded each other and stayed focused, which showed in a tight road game on the second half of a back-to-back.
What's Next
Larkin's trade request remains unresolved, and the distraction could continue until it is fulfilled. Detroit continues its season at 1-3-1 while Montreal sits at 2-2-1.