DETROIT – As expected, although a day sooner than widely anticipated, the NHL announced the cancellation of another 99 regular-season games.

In all, the league has wiped out 625 games, including 41 Red Wings games, which is 50 percent of the 2012-13 schedule.

The latest round of cancellations eliminated six Red Wings games, including a pair at Joe Louis Arena – against Toronto (Jan. 1) and Nashville (Jan. 4). Even though the NHL announced the cancellation of the 2013 Winter Classic between the Wings and the Toronto Maples last month, Detroit’s home game against their Original Six rival remained on the schedule until today.

Wings’ road games at Chicago (Jan. 6), San Jose (Jan. 9), Los Angeles (Jan. 12) and Anaheim (Jan. 13) were also cancelled on Thursday.

Prior to Thursday’s announcement, the league last cancelled a two-week stretch of games on Dec. 10, wiping out games through Dec. 30.