There wasn’t much holiday cheer as the Detroit Red Wings played their last home game before the Christmas break: they struggled to score, and spent most of the afternoon playing from behind.
Their Saturday matinee against the Panthers at Little Caesars Arena – the Wings’ last appearance there until New Year’s Eve – was a slow going. It didn’t help the Wings had to make do without one of their top forwards, forcing them to scramble lines.
Jimmy Howard was pulled for the extra attacker with more than a minute to play in regulation, but the Wings had to settle for a 2-1 loss.