In the preseason, traveling NHL teams usually fly in and out on the day of their exhibitions. While this in-and-out approach has its benefits, it also comes with its costs, such as when travel delays push back a game’s start time and sometimes even cancel it.
These delays happened to the Pittsburgh Penguins ahead of Saturday’s game in Detroit. Due to these delays, the Red Wings announced that the game will be postponed until further notice, with a possible new date in the future.
Saturday’s game was originally scheduled for a 7:00 PM start time, but was postponed to 8:30 PM before being canceled. The Red Wings announced Saturday’s cancellation at 6:52 p.m. as the Penguins continued to experience travel delays.
Neither team disclosed a specific source of the travel delays. Based on posts on their social media, the Penguins appeared to be flying out Saturday afternoon.
The game promised to be exciting. Detroit’s expected lineup included Patrick Kane’s preseason debut for the Red Wings. Former Michigan hockey star Rutger McGroarty, who is in the Penguins’ lineup after signing his ELC late in the offseason, was also ready for a homecoming. If the match is rescheduled, it is unclear how a postponed date will impact either team’s lineup decisions, but it is unlikely the lineups will remain exactly the same.
If the Red Wings and Penguins were to cancel the game, neither would be short of preseason opportunities. Detroit has five preseason games remaining, while Pittsburgh has four games remaining.
[Get the Full Scoop: Red Wings-Penguins Game Day Notebook & Where To Watch]
Enough delays
The Penguins aren’t the only ones dealing with travel issues this weekend. Flight tracking service FlightAware reported 2,406 delays in, to or from the United States on Saturday. Many of these delays are caused by the remnants and aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which ravaged parts of the southeastern United States with flooding.
Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn images
Pittsburgh isn’t the only NHL team to have its travel schedule canceled in recent days, either. When the Columbus Blue Jackets played the Washington Capitals on Friday night, their flight to DC was delayed by three hours. The Blue Jackets ultimately won their delayed start 8-4, despite possible jet lag.
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