Penguins Reveal Full Lineup Ahead for Tonight's Game vs Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings wrap up a grueling four-in-five nights schedule Monday when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins in preseason action.

The game comes on the heels of a 3-2 victory by the Penguins over Detroit, with a two-goal lead over the Red Wings that was erased. The Detroit defense has been the cause of fan concern, permitting eight goals in its last two exhibition contests.

While preseason rosters have been fluid, the issues are long-standing. Detroit ranked in the bottom 12 of the league in defense last season, and the franchise is keen to change the trend.

The Red Wings do have a good preseason win against Pittsburgh; they have won eight of the last 12 preseason games against the Penguins since 2018.

Monday is a chance to rebuild defensive shape and gain momentum heading into the regular season.

The Red Wings have plans to ice a more evenly balanced lineup after a well-deserved day off.

Stars Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, Patrick Kane, and Alex DeBrincat, along with cornerstone defenseman Moritz Seider and goalie John Gibson, each played only one preseason game and could get into the game.

On Pittsburgh's side, stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Erik Karlsson played their last exhibition on Saturday, so they won't play in Detroit, as Dan Muse appears to be icing a very young lineup.

For the Red Wings, this game is more than just another exhibition. It's an opportunity to strengthen defense, acclimate players of significance, and try themselves out against a Penguins team that will attempt to find fault in them.

A solid effort would be a confidence builder as the calendar starts to run down toward the beginning of the regular season. For Pittsburgh, if the youth can take down a veteran Wings team, that says a lot about what fans can expect in the season ahead.