The atmosphere at Little Caesars Arena had buzz, not least for all the children excited to see their faces on the Jumbotron.
Saturday afternoon’s game between the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders had less to sell it. One bench featured a competitive team jockeying for playoff positioning.
The other bench had the Wings.
Depleted as they were, the Wings managed to eke out their second victory in 14 games, topping the Islanders, 2-1.
Their victory had much to do with how well Jonathan Bernier played, making 41 saves as the Islanders easily gained access to Detroit’s zone.