PREVIEW: Red Wings gearing up for Saturday matinee vs. visiting Penguins

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings were officially eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention following Thursday's 7-6 shootout loss to the Buffalo Sabres, but head coach Derek Lalonde said his club remains focused on putting together a strong finish.

"I don't think the guys' mindset will change," Lalonde said. "We'll just keep pushing forward the last four games. Hopefully, continue to play the right way to give ourselves a chance like we have night in and night out of late."
Up next for the Red Wings (35-33-10; 80 points) is Saturday's matinee against the Pittsburgh Penguins (39-30-10; 88 points) at Little Caesars Arena. Puck drop is set for 1 p.m., with TV broadcast coverage airing exclusively on ABC/ESPN+. Ken Kal and Paul Woods will have the call on the Red Wings Radio Network (WWJ Newsradio 950 in Detroit).

Pittsburgh, like Buffalo, is firmly amidst a tight Eastern Conference wild card race. Heading into Saturday's NHL slate, the Penguins sit one point behind the Florida Panthers (89 points) and New York Islanders (89 points), who occupy the first and second wild card spots, respectively.
The Red Wings outlasted the Penguins, 5-4, in overtime at PPG Paints Arena on Dec. 28 before pulling away in a 7-4 victory at Little Caesars Arena on March 28. A win on Saturday would give Detroit its first regular-season series sweep (minimum two games) against Pittsburgh since the 2002-03 season.
"We're playing a really good Pittsburgh team fighting for their playoff lives," Lalonde said. "The superstar power and difference-makers they have, I think there's gonna be more at stake with the fact that we beat them last week. So, I think we'll get their best and it'll force us to go to another level with our game."

The Penguins are coming off a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday. Sidney Crosby (31-57-88) and Evgeni Malkin (25-56-81) have both surpassed the 80-point plateau this season, while Jake Guentzel (35-36-71) has four points in his last five games. Pittsburgh goalie Tristan Jarry made 27 saves against the Wild, improving to 23-12-6 with a 2.94 goals-against average and .909 save percentage.
"We've been taking points for the last few games," said Simon Edvinsson, who scored his second career NHL goal against the Sabres. "We feel that, as a group, we have something going here. We are trying to build up good habits in practices and games by being ready."