The Red Wings and Panthers kick things off this afternoon at Little Caesars Arena.
Florida coach and Windsor native Bob Boughner says it's nice to be back so close to home during the holidays.
"I've got a ton of roots here, so I love coming back. I think at the end of the day you try and block a lot of that stuff out," he says.
He says focus has to stay on the game before he can go out and catch up with friends.
"You want to visit with people, you want to do your thing, but it's important that you get your team ready and there's a lot of work behind that."
The rink is full of history for Boughner too, he was drafted 32 overall by the Red Wings back in 1989.
It might not be old Joe Louis Arena, but Little Caesar's Arena still has some familiar faces roaming the halls.
"I love it, I mean, this is the first organization that gave me a chance and there's still some faces here, Kenny Holland, I talked to Kris Draper this morning. Me and Drapes played together in Adirondack," says Boughner. "There are just a lot of connections here."
The Red Wings and Panthers are already underway at Little Caesars Arena this afternoon.