NHL Postpones Red Wings' Home Opener vs. Penguins

PUBLICATION

Daniel Lucente
October 8, 2024 (6:42 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

The Detroit Red Wings are going to have to wait longer to play their first game of the season at home, as the league has postponed it to accommodate the MLB.

The Detroit Red Wings open their 2024-25 season Thursday night when the Pittsburgh Penguins pay a visit to Little Caesars Arena. And yes, fans should expect a little later start than they normally would thanks to another big event happening just down the street.

The Detroit Tigers are also hosting a postseason game that same evening at Comerica Park against the Cleveland Guardians. With the arenas so close to each other, it was decided to push the Red Wings' puck drop back by an hour to try and alleviate potential traffic issues between the two sporting events.

The Red Wings' contest, originally set for a 7:00 p.m. ET puck drop, is now slated to begin at 8:00 p.m. ET. The move is being done as a precautionary measure to allow the proper crowd dispersion from the Tigers' 6:08 p.m. ET contest to help avoid as much congestion as possible for hockey game traffic arriving in the area.

"With heavy traffic volume expected that evening in downtown Detroit, fans are encouraged to arrive early and to give themselves extra time by reserving parking in advance," said the Red Wings in a statement.

This week is a milestone for the Tigers, too. Wednesday night's game will be their first home playoff appearance since 2014; Thursday night's outing will be the second. If the series goes to a Game 5, the teams will return to Cleveland on Saturday.

Thankfully, Thursday is the only possible conflict for the Red Wings. The Tigers, if necessary, play in Cleveland on Saturday, with the Red Wings hosting the Nashville Predators at Little Caesars Arena that night. That means no conflicts and a clear path to a smooth weekend of Detroit sports.