Detroit Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios returned to the ice Tuesday less than a week after taking himself out of action to help employees of his sports bars cope with the stabbing deaths of two co-workers.

Chelios had missed the last six games, two because of injury and four games following the slayings in Detroit. Killed were 49-year-old Megan Soroka and 52-year-old Mark Barnard.

A 17-year-old busboy who was recently fired from Cheli's Chili Bar confessed to the killings, according to a police report. Justin Blackshere faces two charges of first-degree murder.

He was being held without bond until a preliminary examination on Jan. 16.

The 44-year-old Chelios has seven assists and no goals in 35 games this year. He was to play in his 1,512th game.

SIDENOTES:  The Red Wings snapped their 3-game losing streak by beating the Avalanche.  The Wings have gone 163 games without being shut out, the longest active streak in the NHL. The all-time record is 264 games set by Calgary, from Nov. 12, 1981-Jan. 9, 1985.