DETROIT -- While Craig Conroy and Eric Nystrom scarfed down steaks in the lobby of a downtown hotel, David Moss feasted on turkey and all the trimmings.
Thanksgiving south of the border was celebrated a little differently by the Calgary Flames' three American players.
"Yeah. At a restaurant. In Detroit. In a hotel," Nystrom said with a grin after the morning skate at Joe Louis Arena.
He'd politely turned down an invitation to Moss' family spread in nearby Livonia, Mich., after the team arrived in Detroit early Thursday evening.
"It was just getting a little late. I was pretty tired. It would have been nice to have gone but I wanted to take it easy.
"I had it with my other fellow American."
Taking advantage of a fortunate night off 20 minutes away from his hometown, one that just happened to fall on arguably the biggest holiday in the U.S., Moss enjoyed a home-cooked meal with his parents, grandfather, wife and brother.
With a game against the Red Wings the next night, Moss said he took it easy on the indulgence.
"It wasn't easy," he said with a smile yesterday.
"You get used to eating out on the road all the time. It was nice to have a home-cooked meal and kind of relax and enjoy it."
The crowd was a little smaller, but it reminded Moss of his college days at the University of Michigan -- which were the last times he was able to enjoy Thanksgiving at home.
"I'd come home, and if (teammates) were in town, they would always come over," Moss said. "We had a bigger crowd in those days.
"It'd be a good time."
Nystrom can't remember the last time he was home for the holiday, but it would likely have been during his time as Moss' teammate with the Wolverines.
"It's a huge holiday in the U.S. It's definitely one of the biggest of the year. It rivals Christmas, for sure, as a top day for family and friends," Nystrom said.
"It's been a long time since I was able to get home. I talk to my family. They just pass the phone around and I get to say hi to everybody."
Turkey was on Conroy's mind, but it wouldn't have been the same ordering it off a menu.
"Turkey was on the menu, but I still had steak," Conroy said of his Thanksgiving meal. "(The waitress) said it was a very small piece of turkey."
STEVE.MACFARLANE@SUNMEDIA.CA
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THREE STARS AS CHOSEN BY STEVE MACFARLANE
MIIKKA KIPRUSOFF, FLAMES
Put up with a lot of traffic, and put on a goaltending clinic during the assault.
DARREN HELM, RED WINGS
The speedy winger was all over the Flames but couldn't find a way to finish.
JAMIE LUNDMARK, FLAMES
The call-up looked good on the first line, scoring a goal and setting up another.
