In the NFL, the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders will clash on Christmas Eve.
The NBA has five games slated for Christmas Day.
In the NHL, it’s happy holidays. Decades ago, pro hockey determined that at this time of year, it was best to just say Noel.
The NHL hasn't scheduled a game on Christmas Eve since the 1972-73 season. The last NHL games on Christmas Day were played during the 1971-72 season.
The Detroit Red Wings haven’t played on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day since 1972, a 5-0 loss at the Rangers on Christmas Eve.
“I think it’s great and I think it’s important to keep things like that relevant in this world,… Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. “I hope we never get to a day where we don’t have a break like this. I hope we never get to a day where we’re playing on Christmas. I think it would be awful.
“I just think there’s got to be some time where you say family is more important than dollars or anything else.…
The players also appreciate the break they get from Dec. 23-25 to spend time with their loved ones.
“It’s nice and all the guys have families that they can settle down with and spend some quality time with,… Detroit center Riley Sheahan said. “Some of us are fortunate enough to get to go home.
“It’s definitely nice to have a little break but we can’t take the time for granted. We have to stay in it, keep our minds in it and come back on the 26th ready to play.…
It wasn’t always this way. Christmas games were once a staple of the NHL schedule.
Detroit’s first holiday game was a 2-0 loss at Chicago on Christmas Day 1926, the team’s inaugural NHL campaign. Hugh Lehman got the shutout. On Christmas Day 1930 at Olympia Stadium, Detroit drubbed Toronto 10-1, marking the first time in franchise history they’d scored double digits in a game.
During the 1938-39, 1955-56 and 1960-61 seasons, Detroit played on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Detroit on Christmas Eve (0-4-1) 1929 Detroit 3 at New York Americans 5 1938 Detroit 0 at Toronto 2 1955 Detroit 2 at Montreal Canadiens 4 1960 Detroit 4 at Toronto 4 1972 Detroit 0 at NY Rangers 5
Detroit on Christmas Day (15-18-5) 1926 Detroit 0 at Chicago 2 1930 Toronto 1 at Detroit 10 1932 Chicago 0 at Detroit 4 1933 Ottawa 6 at Detroit 3 1934 Chicago 2 at Detroit 1 1935 Chicago 2 at Detroit 0 1936 Chicago 1 at Detroit 1 (10:00 OT) 1937 Detroit 1 at Toronto 1 (10:00 OT) 1938 Montreal Canadiens 1 at Detroit 4 1939 Montreal Canadiens 1 at Detroit 3 1940 Toronto 2 at Detroit 3 1941 Brooklyn Americans 2 at Detroit 3 1942 NY Rangers 3 at Detroit 1 1944 Toronto 4 at Detroit 6 1945 Toronto 3 at Detroit 6 1946 Toronto 2 at Detroit 1 1947 NY Rangers 2 at Detroit 0 1948 Detroit 1 at Toronto 2 1949 Montreal Canadiens 2 at Detroit 3 1950 NY Rangers 1 at Detroit 4 1951 NY Rangers 1 at Detroit 2 1952 Chicago 3 at Detroit 3 1954 Detroit 3 at Toronto 2 1955 Toronto 1 at Detroit 1 1956 NY Rangers 1 at Detroit 8 1957 Detroit 1 at Boston 4 1958 Toronto 2 at Detroit 0 1959 NY Rangers 5 at Detroit 2 1960 Chicago 3 at Detroit 0 1961 NY Rangers 6 at Detroit 4 1962 Toronto 1 at Detroit 2 1963 NY Rangers 3 at Detroit 4 1964 Montreal Canadiens 2 at Detroit 2 1965 Detroit 3 at Montreal Canadiens 4 1966 Montreal Canadiens 4 at Detroit 0 1967 Toronto 3 at Detroit 1 1968 Detroit 3 at Pittsburgh 6 1971 Detroit 3 at Toronto 5
Ouellet Down The Wings returned defenseman Xavier Ouellet to AHL Grand Rapids on Wednesday. Ouellet, recalled after Saturday’s Griffins game, saw no game action during his latest stint in Detroit, but that’s not an indictment of his ability.
“I have lots of faith in X as a player,… Blashill said. “I know what X can do. I think he’s right there with a lot of D in this room. He’s a very good player.
“When he’ll get his opportunity, time will tell that. He’ll get an opportunity at some point, whether it’s this year or in the future and he’ll be a real good NHL player I think.
Blashill coached Ouellet, 22, for two seasons in Grand Rapids and knows he’ll be coaching him in Detroit one day.
“When X is playing his best hockey, X has the ability to pass the puck,… Blashill said. “He’s I would say a good all-around player. He makes good outlet passes. He’s got good strength to him.
“He’s smart defensively. He can add offense from the blue-line with a pretty good shot. I think he’s a good all-around player.…
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