How to Judge Lalonde's Success in Detroit This evening, the Red Wings will play two different preseason games at seven o'clock. A mostly NHL group will host the Penguins at Little Caesars Arena following Saturday night's postponement, while a less experienced group will travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres. Dan Watson, the Grand Rapids Griffins coach, and Pat Mikesch, Toledo Walleye bench boss, will coach the Red Wing squad in Buffalo. "This is rare, unique, [but] it actually works fine," said coach Derek Lalonde after this morning's first skate. "You get the two teams going. I don't know if it's ideal, six games in six days. It'll be a little taxing. Couple guys'll probably do some back-to-backs, some three in fours, but it's pretty spread out where it's going. And we accomplished beat em so bad in practice, guys are begging for games, so it's not that bad of a schedule coming up here." LINEUPS, GOALIES, AND KANE'S PRE-SEASON USAGE Here is the lineup of the team that will host Pittsburgh: Per Lalonde, the plan in net will be for Cam Talbot to play the first two periods, before Sebastian Cossa relieves him in the third. Meanwhile, Patrick Kane will make his pre-season debut after it was postponed Saturday night. Lalonde did note that the plan all along has been for Kane to play three games this pre-season, but the slight change in scheduling may require him to play an extra as the team navigates a busy week. Apr 15, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings right wing Patrick Kane (88) skates with the puck while defended by Montreal Canadiens defenseman Justin Barron (52) in the second period at Little Caesars Arena [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA5NjU1MzQ4ODI1NDMzMjQ4/usatsi_23034694.jpg] Apr 15, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings right wing Patrick Kane (88) skates with the puck while defended by Montreal Canadiens defenseman Justin Barron (52) in the second period at Little Caesars Arena Meanwhile, these were the lines at the second skate of the morning, intended for the group traveling to Buffalo: Per Lalonde, Alex Lyon will play two periods and then Jack Campbell will handle the third. As you can see, it will be an AHL-heavy lineup in front of the two goaltenders with zero skaters on for morning skate who played an NHL game for Detroit last season. WHERE TO WATCH Neither game tonight will air on traditional television, but both games will stream on the Red Wings website and mobile app: ALSO FROM THN DETROIT Red Wings-Penguins Game Day Notebook & Where To Watch [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/game-day/red-wings-penguins-game-day-notebook-where-to-watch] Three Takeaways from the Red Wings' 2-0 Win Over Chicago [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/game-day/three-takeaways-from-the-red-wings-2-0-win-over-chicago] Locked in Another Goalie Battle, Alex Lyon Equipped for High Workload [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/game-day/locked-in-another-goalie-battle-alex-lyon-equipped-for-high-workload] "It's Just a Matter of Time for Him": Danielson Proving NHL Question is about When, Not If [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/game-day/its-just-a-matter-of-time-for-him-danielson-proving-nhl-question-is-about-when-not-if] Can Ville Husso Make a Push to Reclaim the Starting Role in Detroit? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/can-ville-husso-make-a-push-to-reclaim-the-starting-role-in-detroit] College Corner: Michigan State Club Brings Underwater Hockey to the Surface [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/game-day/college-corner-michigan-state-club-brings-underwater-hockey-to-the-surface]
