Red Wings, with close to regular lineup, lose to Penguins in preseason rematch

Ted Kulfan
The Detroit News

Detroit — This isn't the regular season yet, but the Red Wings had a lineup Monday that possibly could be the one they have opening night.

If it is, there are still a few kinks to work out, but there's room for optimism.

Pittsburgh, who the Wings dismantled to begin the exhibition season a week ago, came into Little Caesars Arena and came out with a 3-2 victory.

But the Wings rallied in the third period, cutting what had been a 3-0 deficit to 3-2 when Dylan Larkin scored at 17 minutes, 20 seconds when the Wings pulled the goalie. The Wings couldn't get the equalizer past Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith (37 saves).

BOX SCORE: Penguins 3, Red Wings 2 (exhibition)

"I liked a lot of things," Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. "I would love to see (how) an analytic read of that game played out because we did a lot of real good things. A lot of grade A's (chances), we had some real good chances. I preach to the guys it's process over outcome and this was a perfect example."

Pittsburgh's Jason Zucker, center, celebrates after scoring a goal on Red Wings goaltender Ville Husso during the second period at Little Caesars Arena on Monday.

Bryan Rust (Troy/Birmingham Brother Rice), Josh Archibald and Jason Zucker scored goals for the Penguins, with Rust and Zucker both scoring on the power play.

The Wings' special teams weren't effective. The Wings allowed two Pittsburgh power-play goals (on two opportunities), while not scoring on their own two attempts.

"Special teams was a huge difference," Lalonde said. "They were 2-for-2 and we were 0-for-2 (on the power play). We were disciplined, only taking two penalties, but it's just the timing of it and they cashed in."

Goaltender Ville Husso made 15 saves for the Wings through two periods before being replaced by Jussi Olkinuora.

Dominik Kubalik cut the lead to 3-1 with the Wings' team-leading third goal of the preseason. Moritz Seider lifted a shot toward DeSmith off a rush. Rookie forward Jonatan Berggren got a piece of the puck, which slid to Kubalik all alone driving the opposite wing and tapping the puck into a wide-open net.

"It kind of felt like a regular-season game," Kubalik said. "We really wanted it."

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After talking with general manager Steve Yzerman after Saturday's victory in Chicago, Lalonde made the decision to put together an NHL-type of lineup to begin preparing for the Oct. 14 season opener.

"It gives us an opportunity to start repping some of our guys as a group," Lalonde said after the morning skate. "This group will probably get Friday also (home against Toronto), but it will also give them three practice days. Some guys will be in and out of there. We're starting to get some reps with a look of what we see as potentially guys competing for that opening-night roster."

The Penguins had, essentially, a regular-season roster Monday also, which made for a good test both ways.

"You'll get that when both teams kind of suit their top teams and you're trying to fine-tune your game," Lalonde said. "What I'm most optimistic about is our care level. Our guys are dejected like it's a regular-season game and for me, that's a pretty good sign."

In that type of competition, Berggren (an assist, plus-one rating) and defenseman Simon Edvinsson (team-high seven hits, three blocks) both continued to impress.

Lalonde mentioned both rookies are getting comfortable and slowing the game around them. With one week and three games left in the exhibition season, the two are making strong bids to make the opening-night roster.

What will determine if both, or either, makes the final roster?

"I'm in the macro, Steve's job is the big picture," Lalonde said. "I want to win every game. Steve probably has to protect the big picture and it's where (they're) going to be in time and what suits them. We have a couple more games here. I'm not being guarded. I couldn't really tell you how it's going to play out next week.

"The fact we're going to have make some tough decisions is certainly a positive going forward."

ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @tkulfan