from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,

The Red Wings were terrible Friday, but hockey takes a backseat to real life.

And real life certainly came into play after the game, a 7-2 loss to Florida, when the Wings found out about the death of longtime team masseur Sergei Tchekmarev.

An emotional coach Jeff Blashill was crestfallen over the death of the likable and popular Tchekmarev, more commonly known around the locker room as "Cheekah."

Tchekmarev, 65, had been around the Wings' organization since 1998....

"We were terrible tonight, we didn't play good," said Blashill, still emotional, after announcing Tchekmarev's death. "I don't have any words for it at all. With all due respect to everybody, that's all I'm going to answer."

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