Jacob Markstrom Returns and Struggles as the Larkin-Less Red Wings Beat Florida 5-3: The Fantasy Read on Both Goalies and Detroit's Depth

Jacob Markstrom made his first start since Oct. 17 on Monday night and the Florida Panthers lost 5-3 to the Detroit Red Wings, who keep finding ways to win without captain Dylan Larkin. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Justin Faulk each had two points, Carter Mazur scored his first NHL goal, and Daniil Tarasov made 23 saves to snap Florida's three-game winning streak.

For fantasy managers, the game raised questions about Florida's goaltending and answered some about Detroit's forward depth. Here is what to take from it.

How the game played out

Mazur opened the scoring for Detroit. Sam Reinhart and Aaron Ekblad scored for Florida to keep it close, but the Red Wings pulled away early in the third period, when Faulk scored the go-ahead goal on the power play 2:08 into the frame and Brandsegg-Nygard added another. Alex DeBrincat also scored for Detroit. Sam Bennett gave Florida a late goal, and Emmitt Finnie sealed it with an empty-netter with three seconds remaining.

Markstrom had been out with an upper-body injury suffered in practice on Oct. 19, initially expected to keep him out 10 to 14 days. He made 24 saves on Monday before being pulled late for an extra attacker. Local coverage described it as another difficult outing for the veteran.

The Florida goalie question

The Panthers won three straight before Markstrom's return, and the timing of his first start back was always going to invite scrutiny. One shaky game after a long layoff is not a reason to panic, but it does raise the possibility that coach Paul Maurice leans on the goalie who was winning in his absence while Markstrom works back into form.

For fantasy, that means Markstrom is a hold in standard leagues but not an automatic start. Wait for confirmation of the starter through Daily Faceoff on game days before plugging him in. Florida's top skaters remain strong starts, and Reinhart's goal on Monday kept him productive.

Detroit without Larkin

The Red Wings suspended Larkin without pay after he told the team he would no longer play for them and asked to be traded. Interim GM Shawn Horcoff has said Detroit will wait as long as necessary for a fair return, and Larkin's full no-trade protection means any deal requires his approval. Reports have suggested his approved list of about 10 teams could be adjusted.

Monday showed what Detroit looks like in the meantime: a deeper, more spread-out attack. Brandsegg-Nygard's two-point night is the most encouraging sign for fantasy. The young winger is getting more responsibility with Larkin out, and he is worth adding in deeper leagues. Faulk, a veteran defenseman with power-play time, is a useful streaming option while Detroit's power play runs through more players.

DeBrincat remains Detroit's most reliable fantasy forward and should see even more offensive opportunity without Larkin in the lineup.

Tarasov's role

Tarasov, Florida's former backup, beat his old team with a 23-save performance. He is a useful streaming option for Detroit when he gets starts, especially against teams that do not generate many high-danger chances. Check the confirmed starter each day before using him.

The betting angle

Detroit's ability to win on the road against a strong Florida team without its top center suggests the market may be underrating the Red Wings while Larkin is out. Depth teams can still win with balanced scoring, and the Red Wings' power play remains dangerous.

For Florida, the angle to watch is goaltending. If Markstrom starts again soon and struggles, the Panthers' price as a favorite may not reflect the downgrade in net. Verdexed's daily NHL board will be posted at /blog/nhl-picks-2026-11-03, and the model's live probabilities are on the /nhl/predictions page.

What's next

The Larkin situation could change Detroit's outlook at any point if a trade materializes. A deal would likely bring back young assets or picks rather than an immediate replacement, which would leave the current depth chart largely intact for fantasy purposes.

What to do in your league: add Brandsegg-Nygard in deeper leagues, stream Faulk on nights Detroit has a favorable matchup, keep DeBrincat in lineups, and hold Markstrom but confirm Florida's starter before every game.