There were sights unfamiliar — and too familiar — as the Detroit Red Wings played their first game in 310 days.

They started the 2021 season by hosting the Carolina Hurricanes — the same team that left the 2019-20 Wings on the mat March 10, two days before the NHL shut down the season because of the pandemic — on Thursday at Little Caesars Arena .

Credit new goalie Thomas Greiss for keeping the 2021 opener close, but his teammates were not nearly as effective as the hope they built up during a two-week training camp.

The result was a 3-0 loss that was only close because Greiss made 41 saves. The Wings did not acquit themselves well in any other aspect — but they have a rematch on hand Saturday at LCA.

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