Dylan Larkin heard his name chanted on the road Saturday night, and not the way the Red Wings center has heard it at home this fall. Canadiens fans at the Bell Centre repeatedly called out “We want Larkin” during the first two periods of Detroit’s 1-0 shootout loss in Montreal, and Larkin told reporters after the game that the moment caught him off guard.

“I never would have imagined that in this building and in my career,” Larkin said, per the Detroit Free Press, as relayed by Detroit Sports Nation. He described Montreal’s fans as passionate and knowledgeable, called the Bell Centre one of the best atmospheres in hockey, and said he took the chant as a sign of how much the crowd loves its team. He added that his attention went back to the game after a few seconds.

Asked about the idea of playing in Montreal, Larkin did not speculate and said he remains a Red Wing. Teammate Lucas Raymond said the players were focused on the game and did not really notice the crowd.

The reception was a sharp contrast to Detroit, where Larkin was booed during player introductions on opening night and again when he returned to the lineup Oct. 6 against Ottawa, before the boos largely turned to cheers when he scored in a 5-3 win. Larkin asked to be traded during the offseason, and the request has not been granted. He missed training camp, the preseason, and the first two regular-season games before returning. Mitten Hockey covered his comments on the boos last week.

McLellan: “We have a responsibility to each other”

Head coach Todd McLellan was asked after the game about the noise surrounding the team, which also includes defenseman Simon Edvinsson’s unresolved contract situation. He acknowledged it is weighing on the group.

“I’d be lying if I said everything going on wasn’t a distraction,” McLellan said in comments posted by the Red Wings. He said the players, coaches, and trainers have done a good job of shielding one another and staying focused on preparing to play, and that the group has a responsibility to concentrate on what it can control. Detroit Sports Nation reported that McLellan grew frustrated as questions kept returning to Larkin and declined to discuss the subject further.

McLellan otherwise praised what he called a gutsy effort on the second half of a back-to-back, a night after a 6-3 home loss to Seattle. Daniil Tarasov stopped all 30 shots he faced through regulation and overtime before Zachary Bolduc scored the only goal of a six-round shootout. The Red Wings are 1-3-1 and open a three-game homestand Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils at Little Caesars Arena.

Sources

• NHL.com/Red Wings: Tarasov, penalty kill help Red Wings earn hard-fought point in 1-0 shootout loss to Canadiens
• Detroit Sports Nation: Dylan Larkin Breaks Silence on Canadiens Fans Chanting ‘We Want Larkin’
• Detroit Sports Nation: Todd McLellan Admits Red Wings’ Off-Ice Drama Has Become a Distraction
• The Hockey News: “It Was Interesting”: Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin Responds To Viral Chant By Canadiens Fans