At a time they’d usually be thinking about dinner, the Detroit Red Wings will be taking the ice to prepare for a game that looms large, literally and figuratively.
In a what projects to be an entertaining spectacle, Saturday’s match against the Columbus Blue Jackets will be outdoors, at Ohio Stadium, before an expected crowd of around 90,000 fans — and against an opponent that’s neck-and-neck with the Wings in the NHL standings.
“It’ll be fun,” Ben Chiarot said. “It’s a good day for family, good day for all the guys. Everyone enjoys outdoor games, and it’s a big two points on the line.”
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Saturday’s forecast calls for cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid 30s during the day, with an overnight low around 20.
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“I’ve been checking the weather,” Erik Gustafsson said. “Looks pretty perfect — not too cold and not too warm, and no sun.”
Gustafsson said this will be his eighth outdoor game, so he has up a few pointers.
“The boards are lively,” he said. “You don’t hear too much out there on the ice — you have to speak up loudly. It’s like a playoff game — intense. It’s going to be fun. I heard there’s going to be a lot of fans, too, and that’s one thing, too, just getting the crowd into it. Even if you’re playing away, like we are in Columbus, it’s always fun to play in those games.”
Patrick Kane is another veteran of outdoor games, thanks to his 16 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks.
“I think I’ve been in four Winter Classics and a few Stadium Series,” he said. “They’re fun. There’s definitely some build-up to it. I think it’s a great chance for the team to get together and bond, not only with the team but with families as well. And then look at the position we’re in — it’s a big game for us.”
“You mix in the outdoor element, you tend to see some really high-intensity games as far as compete level and playoff-type atmosphere. They’re fun to play in.”
The Wings are scheduled to practice on the rink at 6:30 p.m. Friday (as the “home” team, the Blue Jackets have a 4:30 p.m. slot). That’s expected to last approximately 45 minutes, after which players can bring their families on the ice. Kane planned to bring his 4-year-old son, and DeBrincat also will bring his oldest kid, who’ll be 3 in May.
“It’s an unusual practice time,” Kane said. “Usually we’re eating dinner around then.”
Gustafsson likened the late practice to “going back to when you were a kid and practicing after school.”
While Gustafsson and Kane are well familiar with outdoor games, Lucas Raymond is anticipating his first one.
“I think everyone is just excited for a game like that,” he said. “For a couple of us, it’s our first outdoor game. It’s a big event. The ice is probably going to be a little different just being outdoors, so it’ll be good to get a little rehearsal with practice.”
Todd McLellan has coached in four outdoor games, and emphasized how important it is not to lose track of what matters most: The points.
“Focus is something that has to come into play,” he said. “You know why you’re going there, you know the games are important, but there are so many auxiliary things that go on. Your families tend to make the trip, you’re skating with them the night before, you don’t necessarily get a real practice in. You’re basically there getting used to the ice and your surroundings.
“From a player perspective, the spatial awareness is off — usually the fans are on top of you, it’s darker in that situation. Goalies are looking to the other end and seeing the tightness of a building. At times the rink feels big, other times it feels really small when you’re on the bench. So there’s a lot of variables that change when you get to the outdoor game. But we’re all excited to be part of it and both teams have to deal with it.”
The Wings wore their Stadium Series helmets during a practice earlier in February, and Thursday, each player had a pair of maize and blue skate guards by his stall. The event has been hyped for the rivalry between the states, with an emphasis on the Michigan Wolverines-Ohio State Buckeyes angle, since there’s not much rivalry history between the Wings and Blue Jackets. (They’ve met just once in the playoffs, a four-game sweep by the Wings back in 2009).
The game comes a week after the Wings emerged for the stretch run towards the playoffs following a pause for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. Playing outdoors is something else, and their resident expert suggested the best course is to embrace it.
“Usually when you play, you have the crowd right on top of you,” Kane said. “These games, you have the rink, and then a lot of space, and the crowd, so it seems like you’re just out there by yourself playing an important NHL hockey game. So it’s a little bit different in that regard, but you just try to keep things the same, keep the routine the same. Take it in and enjoy, too, that’s important. Sometimes that brings out the best in you.”
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.
Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. Her latest book, “The Franchise: Detroit Red Wings, A Curated History of the Red Wings,” was released October 2024. Her books, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” and “The Big 50: The Men and Moments that made the Detroit Red Wings” are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.
