Three takeaways from Red Wings' 5-1 win over Blue Jackets

The Detroit Red Wings got their captain back, saw him score three points and took home an easy win, 5-1, over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Not bad for a preseason game.
The Red Wings were out in front from almost the moment the game started, with Taro Hirose scoring just 1:16 into the game, and never relinquished control. They played stout defense, limited Columbus to 20 shots, took advantage of their scoring chances and won easily.
Here are three takeaways from Saturday night's action.

Dylan Larkin scores twice, gets an assist in his return to the ice

Dylan Larkin stepped onto the ice for warmups, no helmet, the C on his jersey.
It was a minor milestone in his recovery from injury - 17:41 time on ice, two goals, an assist and five shots in a preseason game that will soon be forgotten - but a milestone nonetheless. Larkin hadn't been on NHL ice since April 20, when a Jamie Benn cross-check ended his season early. There's never been much question that he would be back for the start of this season. But a timeline is one thing. Seeing him in a game is another. Seeing him score - well that's about as good as it gets.
"It was like Ricky Bobby's first race back after his car crash," Larkin said, referencing the Will Ferrell movie. "I just felt like everything was going fast. I wasn't. As the second and third started to happen I felt a little bit more comfortable. It was nice to be on the good side of some good plays, and the power play was clicking. I felt good."

Larkin netted a power play goal off a breakaway at 14:33 in the second period, creating a 1-on-1 chance with Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins off a breakaway and putting it away to cement his return.
Then, late in the third period, Larkin helped create a goal on the power play, assisting Joe Veleno with a pass across goal that gave Veleno an open net to shoot into. Minutes later, he scored a third time - again on the power play - with a wrist shot from the left circle.
Larkin said that during his first six or seven shifts, he felt tentative - as if he was waiting to get hit. Then, he decided to make a change.
"I finally just said, 'I'm gonna go hit someone and maybe get a little frustration out,' " he said.
That did the trick.
"I'm not gonna lie to you guys, I was nervous today," Larkin said. "I had jitters to play. … I was nervous, not to get injured, just to play hockey. It had been a long road."

Depth shines with Raymond, Hirose, Pearson points

Taro Hirose and Chase Pearson are unlikely to be on the Red Wings' Opening Night roster. But that didn't stop them from collecting highlights on Saturday night, as the pair combined to score the game's first two goals.
Hirose started things off at 18:44 of the first period. Riley Barber unleashed a wrist shot from the top of the left circle and Hirose, standing in front of the net, got a stick on the puck to put it past Merzlikins.

Later in the period, Pearson scored a goal that could serve as a highlight of the preseason. Creating something from nothing, Pearson took the puck himself all the way down the right side. When Blue Jackets defenseman Jake Bean went down on the ice to try and block the shot, Pearson plowed Bean - and the puck - into the net for Detroit's second goal.
Lucas Raymond has a shot at making the roster, of course, but it's worth noting here that he impressed as well. Raymond had two assists, including a pass up the seam on Larkin's goal that drew praise from the captain.
"He's got a swagger to his game," Larkin said. "He's smart. He's a smart, headsy hockey player. He waits and waits and then it's right on your tape."
Red WIngs coach Jeff Blashill noted that, although Columbus played a watered-down lineup on its penalty kill, Raymond did all he could to make an impression on the power play.
"He's a guy who I ultimately think could be a really, really good power play player," Blashill said. "... All he can do is face the challenges that he's facing, and so far he's done a good job."
As a whole, the Red Wings played a lineup consisting mostly of players who could start the year in Grand Rapids, with the exception of their top forward lines and pairings. As the 5-1 scoreline implies, that did little to slow Detroit down.

Leddy notches three assists, plays stout defense

Nick Leddy had the puck on his stick often during Saturday night's game, and it showed up in the statsheet.
He had the primary assists on Pearson and Larkin's goals - helping create two breakaways, including a nifty seam pass to Larkin - and the secondary assist on Hirose's opener.
He made some great plays tonight," Larkin said. "Some plays where I was either on the ice or on the bench and said wow to myself."
That, in addition to playing on the Red Wings' top defensive pairing on a night where they limited the Blue Jackets' offensive chances for much of the night. Leddy was also active in exiting the defensive zone, frequently beating Columbus' forecheck and starting up attacking plays for Detroit.
"His skating is elite," Larkin said. "He can skate with the best of them in the league. That's such a weapon on your back end.
"It's pretty amazing how effortless he makes it look."