PENGUINS (43-27-6) at RED WINGS (27-38-11) 7:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, TVAS, FS-D, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV
The Penguins are five points behind the Washington Capitals with six games remaining. Pittsburgh has alternated wins and losses in their past nine games, going 5-2-2, including a 5-4 overtime win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. Detroit has lost three straight and 13 of its past 14 games (1-12-1) and hasn't won in regulation since a 3-1 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 24.
Players to watch
Pittsburgh forward Evgeni Malkin has 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in his past 19 games and leads the Penguins with 92 points (42 goals, 50 assists) in 72 games. Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi has three points (two goals, one assist) in his past two games, including a goal and an assist a 4-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday.
They said it
"It's strange not seeing the Red Wings in the playoff race after what they did for so many years. It is so hard to make it to that level in this league, and they stayed there for 25 years. That's amazing." -- Penguins captain Sidney Crosby "No one wants to lose. It is hard to be in this position, and the only way to get out of it is to keep working hard and not think about it too much." -- Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi
The Penguins held an optional skate. … The Red Wings recalled Hicketts from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League on Monday. He made his NHL debut Jan. 22, playing 15:13 of ice time and was plus-1 in a 3-0 win against the New Jersey Devils.
Stat pack
Crosby has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in his past nine games. … The Red Wings have scored two goals or fewer in seven of their past 10 games.
