Detroit City Wire

The Detroit Red Wings took to the ice at Ohio Stadium on Friday night for an outdoor practice session, preparing for their upcoming NHL Stadium Series game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The practice, held under partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the mid-50s, provided a unique experience for the team.

“It was great,” said Detroit captain Dylan Larkin. “There’s a lot of excitement with the guys. It was pretty cool to just do something different. It’s probably the ugliest stadium that I’ve ever been in, but it’s cool to play hockey outside.”

Larkin's light-hearted comment highlighted the fun aspect of practicing outdoors, a sentiment echoed by teammate Alex DeBrincat. “Anytime you’re outdoors playing, I think it brings you back to being little,” DeBrincat said. “We had a lot of fun out there.”

Practicing at Ohio Stadium also offered practical benefits as players acclimated to conditions they will face during Saturday's game. Coach Todd McLellan noted, “It doesn’t feel the same when you’re on the ice surface as it does in a building... For those players that have played in it, it’ll come back quicker.”

The team anticipates performing before more than 90,000 fans on Saturday night. Marco Kasper expressed his excitement about playing before such a large crowd: “I don’t think you really know what that’s going to feel like... It’s going to be really fun.”

Veteran forward Patrick Kane acknowledged both teams' high stakes as they vie for playoff positions: “This one has a lot at stake... We’d like to do the same to them here in Columbus.” Goalie Alex Lyon added: “It’s pretty cool, the stakes... This is a really cool experience.”

Following their recent 5-2 loss against Columbus at Little Caesars Arena, which resulted in both teams tying for an Eastern Conference Wild-Card spot, Larkin emphasized maintaining control over their season's outcome: "Right now we still control our own destiny."

After practice concluded Friday evening, players enjoyed skating with family members—a bonding activity Lyon believes strengthens team unity. He remarked on its significance: "Really players and staff members alike... It helps you take a step back and appreciate the moment."

Reflecting on these experiences together off-the-rink alongside families further underscored camaraderie within this NHL roster — described simply yet meaningfully by Coach McLellan as "special."