from Larry Brooks of the New York Post, Hands, please, if you’re surprised that Alex Ovechkin was among the perps who violated the NHL’s — the NHL’s and NHLPA’s, by the way — COVID-19 protocols. Didn’t think so. We know it is not ideal. We know that restrictions imposed in our daily lives don’t always make sense. But we also know that if Ovechkin and his Capitals teammates Evgeny Kuznetsov, Ilya Samsonov and Dmitry Orlov wanted to watch television while bivouacked at the team’s hotel in Pittsburgh, they could have done so in a large ballroom set aside for team recreational activities. But no.... continue for more on Ovechkin plus other topics like this... The league has what appears to be a two-week buffer following the tentatively scheduled May 8 end of the regular season to accommodate postponements. According to deputy commissioner Bill Daly via an email exchange, the NHL has not yet begun to discuss — or even consider — contingencies if all teams are unable to complete the 56-game schedule. That, I don’t understand. Seems simple enough to declare immediately that team standings will be determined by winning percentage rather than points if everyone isn’t able complete the schedule. Why wait? In fact, the NHL could even enlist a corporation to sponsor the percentage column of the standings. The league can thank me in the morning.

Almost 18 minutes of Blashill after practice today.  No more names added to the COVID list today and Helm is questionable tomorrow. Bobby Ryan is below.  

With the Detroit beat writers doing exactly what we are doing, sitting at home, it could be a slow news period when the Wings are on the road. Basically we will depending on the team to keep us updated or perhaps a local beat writer may chime in now and then.   Practice day in Chicago. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/dYQBnLbf5Y — Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 23, 2021

Some perspective. PLD is an excellent addition to the Jets. Roslovic made it clear he was never playing for Winnipeg again. Laine didn’t see a future with the Jets beyond this season. This is asset management. 20+ teams expressed interest in Dubois. https://t.co/peOay7yCnj — Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) January 23, 2021

from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, For the third time this season, the Detroit Red Wings are faced with salvaging a series. They lost their first game at Chicago, falling 4-1 Friday at United Center. The teams play again Sunday afternoon. The Wings had to make do without several key players because of the pandemic, leaving them wondering if they will face a temporary shutdown. “Well’ we’re five guys down,” coach Jeff Blashill said Friday night. “The other team with five guys down is Carolina, and they postponed their games. So, that is where we are at. Certainly, it does not help chemistry, but again  … we are just trying to control what we can control.” continued

THREE HARD LAPS * The Stars erupted for seven goals, including five in the second period, to end a scoring drought against the Predators and earn a season-opening win. * A four-goal outing at Xcel Energy Center helped the Wild boost the NHL’s best points percentage in home openers to .800. * Montreal, which leads the League with 24 goals through five games this season, is set to close a six-game, season-opening road trip with its third straight game against Vancouver tonight on Hockey Night in Canada.

Kind of a yak game tonight. As Larry Murphy discussed during the 2nd intermission, Detroit 's routine has been messed up sine yesterday's practice where they skated in small groups to avoid the spreading of the COVID virus. Then flying out this morning, no morning skate an the result was a 4-1 loss tonight. Detroit's lone goal is below, see you Sunday afternoon.

Oops, puck shoved into their own net. Rangers lost 4-3 in a shootout.  

Up first is Dylan Larkin below fid Mickey Redmond, Jeff Blashill and the game highlights.  

The Wings will have their work cut out for them this weekend. Tonight’s game against the Hawks is not going to be an easy one. They’re hungry and angry. We're only four games in, but, this Wings team is starting to look better, and, are playing with more confidence. They will have a couple more players out because of Covid protocol. That's just the way this season will go on. We’ll just have to hang in there, trust in the Yzerplan, keep our fingers crossed, and, hope the guys are for real.  It’s a Live Blog!