Dylan Larkin sets rivalry aside with powerful Auston Matthews praise at Olympics

Team USA won Group C in the preliminaries, and their quest to win the gold medal in the Winter Olympics officially shifts into a new gear with the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, like many of his teammates, is competing in his first Winter Olympics while Team USA goes for its first gold medal in men's ice hockey since 1980. Larkin hasn't lit up the stat sheet (one assist through three games), but he's not expected to carry the load.

One player who has stepped up big time is Larkin's Atlantic Division rival, Team USA captain Auston Matthews. At the end of the preliminary round, Matthew is fifth in points among all men's ice hockey players with five (three goals, two assists). This is exactly what any team would want from their captain. Matthews has received a ton of criticism throughout his career, given his lack of playoff success with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Larkin was one of many Team USA teammates who heaped praise on Matthews before the team moves onto the quarterfinals.

Dylan Larkin praises rival Auston Matthews for leading the charge for Team USA

“People don't realize how much he sacrifices his offense to be in good defensive position. And that’s winning hockey. He plays winning hockey. Plays like a leader should play and blocks shots. Good on faceoffs,” Larkin said, via Sportsnet.

“He was used as a matchup guy and still produced. That’s one of the hardest jobs in hockey — you got to shut someone down and try and score. He did that (Sunday), and that’s world-class.”

It may sting for Red Wings fans to see their team captain praise a rival, but both Larkin and Matthews have similar goals, and that's winning it all at the Olympics. The rivalry is back on once NHL season resumes. But seeing Matthews up close as teammates showcased just how much Matthews gives it his all, offensively and defensively.

Everyone knows about the Maple Leafs' struggles of winning their first Stanley Cup since 1967. The team had a solid core recently of Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner, all of whom were top first-round picks. The hope was that this trio would not only bring Toronto a Stanley Cup, but also potentially build a dynasty. That never happened.

In nine playoff trips since 2017, the Maple Leafs have just two series wins. In his playoff career, Matthews has 29 goals and 33 assists through 68 games. Matthews has a 29-39 career playoff record.

Sure, Red Wings fans are always going to root for the Maple Leafs to lose. Entering the Olympic break, the Red Wings are tied for second in the Atlantic Division and in firm position to make the playoffs. As for the Leafs, they are six points back of the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, so they are far from out of it.

Yet for the Olympics, regular season rivalries are put aside as they seek to earn a medal by the end of the tournament, with gold being the goal. For Larkin, he understands that.

“Hockey players are kind of a different breed. Usually the guys you hate the most are the best players, and underneath it all there’s a lot of mutual respect," said Larkin, h/t Chris Kudialis of The Detroit News. “When you put on this jersey, it’s extra special. We all agree on that.”

If Matthews keeps it up and the entirety of Team USA follows, they could stand a great chance of finally winning the gold medal in men's ice hockey for the first time in 46 years.