In an 82-game NHL season, what happens in October isn’t more important than the results in December and February. But it often feels that way.  Bad starts have a way of battering a team’s confidence when other teams are still hopeful.

That’s why the Red Wings home-heavy schedule from tonight’s Opening Day until Oct. 23 seems like a major test. Playing five Atlantic Division games, plus another Eastern Conference game, sandwiched around Connor McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers, is more like a final exam than a test.

After tonight’s game against Montreal, the Red Wings play Toronto Saturday at home, and then two more home games next Wednesday and Friday against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.  On Sunday, Oct. 19, the Oilers come to town. The lone road game in this stretch comes Oct. 22 at Buffalo, and then back to Detroit the following night to meet the Islanders.

Based on that schedule, we will have an early indication about how the Detroit’s youth-infused lineup will stack up against division rivals and against top teams like the Panthers and Oilers who were in last season’s Stanley Cup Final.

“I’m okay with that,” Coach Todd McLellan said. “I think it should put us on our toes. We have to play these teams at some point…The gauntlet you have to go through. Well, it happens at some point. You know, we can’t get overly high or overly low on what might happen throughout the first five, six games. We have to be aware that there’ll be ups and downs, and if there’s downs, we can’t drag ourselves into the mud and never get out of it.”

Honoring #10. ❤️

Patches will be displayed on our traditional home and road jerseys all season to honor Alex Delvecchio. A helmet sticker will be worn on Centennial jersey nights. pic.twitter.com/OM0KI5lth0

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 8, 2025

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

Paywall story: With three rookies debuting tonight in Detroit’s home opener, it seems appropriate to review what other key Red Wings did in their first NHL games. Bob Duff has the story.  To subscribe to DHN+ stories, click here:

Five interesting facts about the Red Wings NHL Opener against the Montreal Canadiens tonight.

Why Todd McLellan says 23 guys are in Detroit’s Leadership Group.

Red Wings Extra

James van Riemsdyk, an offseason free agent signing, won’t play in the Red Wings Opener tonight. He missed much of training camp because of complications with his wife’s delivery of twins.  McLellan said JVR is getting close to being ready. Playing Saturday against Toronto is a possibility.

“If everything goes well,” McLellan said. “Getting updates from our training staff about him physically but also updates from our sports science department that monitors his workload and all that type of stuff. And he’s starting to push numbers that are realistic for game situations.”

Hockey Now Network

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San Jose: Sheng Peng explains why Macklin Celebrini is an alternate captain at 19. San Jose Sharks.