DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings are rich in tradition, and one of their annual rituals was playing on Christmas Day.
It started in 1926, the year the franchise was founded. They've played 38 times on Christmas, but not since 1971. In fact, no NHL games have been played on Dec. 25 in 43 years.
Nowadays the league takes a three-day break at the holiday -- no practices, no games, no team travel.
It forces the Red Wings to fly into Nashville Saturday morning, the day of their game against the Predators (8 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit), but they wouldn't have it any other way.