Going for walks, baking cinnamon rolls, ice fishing and watching movies, these are a few of the Detroit Red Wings’ favorite things to do during their holiday break.
Their Christmas vacation was extended by a day when Friday’s game game Ottawa was postponed because of the winter weather. They next gather Tuesday for a practice, ahead of playing Wednesday on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Wings are 14-11-7 as they creep closer to the season’s midpoint. They managed to snap a six-game skid before going on the three-day NHL-wide break, celebrating a confidence-inducing, 7-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, one of league’s elite teams.
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Even as games ended in losses, coach Derek Lalonde largely was positive about performances.
“We went through a stretch where we were probably undermanned,” he said. “Maybe we weren’t even fielding a roster technically good enough to win. The are times we had holes in our game that were self-inflicted, and there are times we’ve had complete games.
“One thing I will say about this group, they’ve worked. They’ve had good will. They haven’t stepped off at all. For the most part, that’s the most enthusiastic, high-morale 0-4-2 stretch team I’ve ever experienced, and I think that’s a credit to the guys.”
With a nod to the holiday season, players shared why this is such a special time of year for them.
Winter wonderlands
For Moritz Seider, Christmas Eve evokes memories of family time back in his native Germany.
“We all would go for a walk on the 24th at night, and then when we come back, Santa would be there with all the gifts under the Christmas tree,” he said. “We would go before dinner, after coffee. We’d have a big walk together and come back and the tree was really precious and stunning.”
Oskar Sundqvist also has warm memories of growing up in northern Sweden.
“At my grandparents cabin, about an hour north of the Arctic circle, we would take the snowmobiles out and have a Swedish fika out on the lake,” he said. “That was always fun. We’d have coffee and Cinnabons. Sometimes we dug a hole and did some ice fishing, too. It was a full day out on the lake.”
Cozy inside
What does Seider watch when he’s at home for Christmas now? “’Home Alone,’ that’s one of the good ones,” he said. “That never gets old for me.”
Alex Nedeljkovic turns to a Dr. Seuss holiday classic. “Maybe my favorite Christmas movie is the Grinch,” he said. “The Jim Carrey one, because he is the man.”
Jonatan Berggren is grateful he can stream a Swedish comedy for comfort and joy.
“It’s called ‘Svensson Svensson,’” he said. “It’s really good. It’s a comedy. Every Christmas at 10 p.m. I watch it, and I will continue to do that this year, too.”
Whereas Mickey Mouse is the king of Disney in the U.S., in Sweden, it’s Donald Duck — or as he’s known there, Kalle Anka.
“In Sweden we always watch Donald Duck before Christmas dinner,” Elmer Söderblom said. “You watch it with family and friends and it’s just a chance to be close to the ones you love and have a great time.”
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Jake Walman took a chance on a romantic comedy from 2006. “I watched ‘The Holiday’ this year,” he said. “That was pretty good. I think I will start watching that. And make Cinnabons.”
Happy Hanukkah
Walman explained how he celebrates this time of year.
“My mom grew up Christian, Catholic, and my dad’s side of the family grew up Jewish. I consider myself Jewish, but our Christmas tree is like a leaf-less birch tree with lights, so it’s pretty cool. Then we have eight days of Hanukkah, and you are supposed to open up a present every day. We light one candle every night, so that’s pretty much what we do with the family.”
Eat, drink & be merry
Dylan Larkin enjoys being off this time of year because it means he…
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