DETROIT -- Considering what he was up against, things are currently working out about as well as they could for Tyler Bertuzzi.

The Detroit Red Wings' gritty winger was limited to just nine games in the shortened 2020-21 season, and underwent major back surgery in April. Getting back on the ice in a competitive environment, let alone picking up where he left off as a cornerstone of Detroit's rebuild, was a lot to ask. There was plenty of uncertainty surrounding the level of production the Red Wings would receive from Bertuzzi, especially early in the season.

Heading into the final game of Detroit's season-opening homestand, Bertuzzi has more than risen to the occasion.

DETROIT -- Lucas Raymond skated hard into the offensive zone, took a pass from center Dylan Larkin in the right circle and fired a wrist shot from the face-off dot past the outstretched stick of a defenseman. The puck whizzed past the goalie's glove and into the upper right corner of the net, and there it was, Raymond's first NHL goal.

DETROIT -- In the end, Detroit Red Wings rookie Lucas Raymond made sure a largely dominant, yet previously scoreless offensive effort didn't last any longer.

Raymond scored his first-career NHL goal 6:17 into the decisive third period, breaking a scoreless tie and giving Detroit a lead it would not relinquish in an eventual 4-1 win over the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night at Little Caesars Arena.

As an extension of the Detroit Red Wings' year-round support of NHL's Hockey is for Everyone initiative and the LGBTQ+ community, the team will celebrate equality and inclusion in hockey during Pride Night at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday before and during the Red Wings' home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

DETROIT -- One thing was made clear during Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin's media session ahead of Tuesday's game against visiting Columbus: he's ready to move on from the events of last Thursday's Home Opener and Saturday's ensuing suspension, and simply get back to leading his team.

Larkin discussed for the first time Mathieu Joseph's hit and the events that followed in the season opener against Tampa Bay (Oct. 14), while also acknowledging his own wrongdoing. He said the one-game suspension was "warranted."

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings, playing without their captain and coming off a tough loss on Thursday, bounced back with a complete performance as they got their first victory of the 2021-22 season, a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena.

Thomas Greiss made 40 saves in his first start of the season as he notched the victory, while Filip Zadina, Robby Fabbri and Sam Gagner each scored their first goals of 2021-22 as the Red Wings improved their record to 1-0-1 (3 points).

The mood at Detroit Red Wings practice on Friday was reflective of the night before. Some mix of feelings between knowing the team played well in Thursday's 7-6 overtime loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning, knowing they had blown a three-goal lead in the final minutes, and anger about the uncertain status of captain Dylan Larkin.

Larkin was ejected from Thursday's game after taking a match penalty by punching Mathieu Joseph in retaliation for a hit along the boards. The same kind of hit that ended Larkin's 2020-21 season at the hands of Jamie Benn, put him in the hospital for a night and a neck collar for eight weeks. After a disciplinary hearing Friday afternoon, Larkin was given a one-game suspension by the NHL.

The Grand Rapids Griffins open their season on Friday night, and the Red Wings will be watching with interest.

One of the things about being a team built around youth: your AHL affiliate holds outsize importance.

When the Griffins drop the puck against the Rockford IceHogs at 7 p.m. on Friday, they'll do so with a roster that includes a number of players that could play for the Red Wings - either this year or further down the line. After a heated competition for roster spots during training camp, this group will be eager to prove themselves and earn call-ups to Detroit as soon as possible.

Last week, before Tyler Bertuzzi stepped on the ice for his first preseason game, it wasn't entirely clear how healthy he was. Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said he'd be back in time for Thursday's opener against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but with limited preseason runway, it was unclear what to expect.

But with 7:31 to go in the second period of an eventual 7-6 Red Wings loss that featured everything you'd want to see in a hockey game, Bertuzzi took aim at an open net, Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy facing the other way, and buried his third goal of the night, putting Detroit up 4-1, hats raining onto the ice at a sold-out Little Caesars Arena.

Dylan Larkin is the epitome of a Hockeytown leader.

The forward was born in raised in nearby Waterford, Mich., played collegiate hockey at the University of Michigan, represents Team USA in international competition and has been an ambassador for the Detroit Red Wings since he was 19 years old.

And now, after being named the 37th captain in franchise history on Jan. 13, and completing his first season with the 'C' in empty arenas due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Larkin is finally being properly celebrated by the Hockeytown faithful as the leader of the Red Wings.