Red Wings fed off the energy from Lions playoff run

It was a hell of a ride, and one that was 30 years in the making, but the rug was finally pulled out from under the feet of the Detroit Lions last night in the Bay Area. 

Despite having advanced further than fans under the age of 30 had literally ever seen in their lifetimes, the championship drought for the Detroit Lions has now been extended to 67 years after their loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game. 

The Detroit Red Wings are no strangers to enduring several decades without a championship, as they went 42 years without the Stanley Cup before 1997. Currently, with several Michigan native players on the Red Wings roster who grew up as Lions fans, they've been tapping into the energy that has uplifted Detroit sports fans, thanks to the Lions' recent run.

“The building was unbelievable,” Dylan Larkin said on Saturday night. “The fans have been great all year. Tonight had a little extra buzz and we felt it.”

There were multiple audible "Ja-red Goff" chants viewers could clearly hear on the television broadcast, and Larkin stated he was excited to have a chance to actually take in the game, as he and his Red Wings teammates were battling the Toronto Maple Leafs while the Lions faced the Rams at Ford Field earlier this month. 

“We get to finally watch the (Lions) game and not have something else going on,” Larkin said. “It’s amazing how the city … the fans, it’s due for them, for us. I couldn’t be happier for Jared and Aiden and a lot of guys that have been there through the tough times. It’s inspiring for us to see how much the city gets behind its sports teams when they’ve earned it and that’s what the Lions have done.”

Now that the Lions season is over, hopefully the Red Wings can continue their momentum and go on a run of their own. 

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