PREVIEW: Red Wings welcome Lightning to Little Caesars Arena on Saturday

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings will conclude a two-game homestand on Saturday night when they welcome the defending Eastern Conference Champion Tampa Bay Lightning to Little Caesars Arena for the final time this season.

Puck drop between the Red Wings (28-21-8; 64 points) and Lightning (36-17-4; 76 points) is set for 8 p.m., with broadcast coverage on Bally Sports Detroit and the Red Wings Radio Network.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early for Saturday's game
, as the first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a Lucas Raymond Bobblehead, presented by Comerica Bank.
With just 25 games remaining this season, the Red Wings are in the thick of an extremely tight wild card race in the Eastern Conference.

On Thursday, Detroit put itself in playoff position with a 4-1 win over the New York Rangers.
But after Buffalo (64 points) outlasted the Florida Panthers (64 points), 3-2, on Friday, the Sabres jumped the Red Wings into the second and final wild card spot.
When reflecting on the club's recent stretch of success, Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde said he's been impressed by the players' ability to stay "even-keeled through situations."
"Obviously, we're on a high right now," Lalonde said. "But I give this group a ton of credit. There's been some tough press conferences in here (Little Caesars Arena) on some tough losses and this group stayed very positive."

Tampa Bay enters Saturday's game - the first half of a back-to-back on the road - coming off a 6-5 overtime loss to the Sabres on Thursday.
Nikita Kucherov paces the Lightning with 81 points and 60 assists, while Brayden Point (34-31-65) has found the scoresheet in seven of his last nine games at Detroit. In Tampa Bay's net, Andrei Vasilevskiy ranks second amongst all goalies in wins with a 27-14-2 record and a 2.60 goals-against average.
Saturday's game marks the third meeting between the Red Wings and Lightning this season. Detroit took a 4-2 decision at AMALIE Arena on Dec. 6 before pulling away from Tampa Bay, 7-4, at Little Caesars Arena on Dec. 21.

Pistons-Red Wings Doubleheader at Little Caesars Arena Saturday

Little Caesars Arena will serve as a hub for Detroit sports fans on Saturday.
At Noon, the Pistons will host the Toronto Raptors. After removal of the Pistons court, prep will begin for Saturday's unconventional 8 p.m. puck drop between the Red Wings and Lightning. The Pistons enter Saturday's matinee looking to snap a three-game losing streak.