from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,

In a scheduling quirk — thank you, pandemic-shortened and affected NHL schedule — the Wings play the Dallas Stars four consecutive games.

The Wings are in Dallas for games Monday and Tuesday, then return for games Thursday and Saturday at Little Caesars Arena.

Are these the playoffs? No, of course not.

But there’s a good best these games will have a feel of something extra, given how important they are for Dallas.

“(We’ll) treat it like first four games of a playoff series, two games there and we have two games at home,” forward Dylan Larkin said. “It’s going to be physical and going to be tight checking and we need to respond to that. It’s a great challenge.

“I know our guys will look at it like that, and we have to step up and rise to the occasion for that one.”

The defending Stanley Cup finalist Stars are three points behind Nashville (49-46) for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division. Chicago is in between with 47 points.

Dallas has played two fewer games than Chicago (45-43) and three fewer games than Nashville (46).

more