In an 82-game NHL season, what happens in October isn\u2019t more important than the results in December and February. But it often feels that way.\u00a0 Bad starts have a way of battering a team\u2019s confidence when other teams are still hopeful.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why the Red Wings home-heavy schedule from tonight\u2019s Opening Day until Oct. 23 seems like a major test. Playing five Atlantic Division games, plus another Eastern Conference game, sandwiched around Connor McDavid\u2019s Edmonton Oilers, is more like a final exam than a test.<\/p>\n
After tonight\u2019s 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.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n
Based on that schedule, we will have an early indication about how the Detroit\u2019s youth-infused lineup will stack up against division rivals and against top teams like the Panthers and Oilers who were in last season\u2019s Stanley Cup Final.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m okay with that,\u201d Coach Todd McLellan said. \u201cI think it should put us on our toes. We have to play these teams at some point\u2026The gauntlet you have to go through. Well, it happens at some point. You know, we can\u2019t get overly high or overly low on what might happen throughout the first five, six games. We have to be aware that there\u2019ll be ups and downs, and if there\u2019s downs, we can\u2019t drag ourselves into the mud and never get out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Honoring #10. \u2764\ufe0f<\/p>\n
Patches will be displayed on our traditional home and road jerseys all season to honor Alex Delvecchio. A helmet sticker\u00a0will be worn on Centennial jersey nights. pic.twitter.com\/OM0KI5lth0<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Red Wings In Case You Missed It<\/p>\n Paywall story: With three rookies debuting tonight in Detroit\u2019s home opener, it seems appropriate to review what other key Red Wings did in their first NHL games.<\/a> Bob Duff has the story.\u00a0 To subscribe to DHN+ stories, click here:<\/a><\/p>\n Five interesting facts about the Red Wings NHL Opener against the Montreal Canadiens<\/a> tonight.<\/p>\n Why Todd McLellan says 23 guys are in Detroit\u2019s Leadership Group.<\/a><\/p>\n Red Wings Extra<\/p>\n James van Riemsdyk, an offseason free agent signing, won\u2019t play in the Red Wings Opener tonight. He missed much of training camp because of complications with his wife\u2019s delivery of twins<\/a>. \u00a0McLellan said JVR is getting close to being ready. Playing Saturday against Toronto is a possibility.<\/p>\n \u201cIf everything goes well,\u201d McLellan said. \u201cGetting 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\u2019s starting to push numbers that are realistic for game situations.\u201d<\/p>\n Hockey Now Network<\/p>\n New Jersey: Where Stefan Noesen fits when he returns from injury? James Nichols has the answer. New Jersey Devils.<\/a><\/p>\n Philadelphia: William James offers his take on what the NHL preseason taught us about the Philadelphia Flyers<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh: Defenseman Parker Wotherspoon has been a good fit thus far for the Pittsburgh Penguins.<\/a><\/p>\n San Jose: Sheng Peng explains why Macklin Celebrini is an alternate captain at 19. San Jose Sharks.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t