DETROIT – Jeff Blashill guided the Detroit Red Wings to the playoffs in 2016 during his first season as head coach. Then he watched the team lose a lot of games over the next six years at the start of an arduous rebuild that’s seen their postseason drought reach nine seasons.

Blashill got a second chance as an NHL head coach with the Chicago Blackhawks, another rebuilding franchise, and is experiencing some early-season success.

The Blackhawks (7-5-3, 17 points) held the second wild card playoff spot in the Western Conference heading into Saturday’s games. They visit the Red Wings (9-6-0, 18 points) Sunday at Little Caesars Arena (1 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network).

Only four players remain from Blashill’s final season in Detroit (2021-22) – Dylan Larkin, Michael Rasmussen, Moritz Seider a

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