(Sports Network) - A rematch of last year's Stanley Cup finals is on tap tonight in the Motor City, as the Detroit Red Wings welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins to Joe Louis Arena.
See all the action live on TSN2, beginning at 7pm et/4pm pt. Also available on TSN2 HD.
The Red Wings won their fourth Stanley Cup title in 11 seasons last spring, defeating Pittsburgh in six games. This is the first meeting between the clubs since Detroit clinched the Cup with a 3-2 victory in Pittsburgh in Game 6.
Detroit has won two in a row and five of its last six regular-season meetings with the Penguins. Pittsburgh has also dropped two straight and three of four in Motown.
Both Detroit and the Penguins have had strong starts to the 2008-09 season. The Red Wings are leading the Central Division with 20 points and Pittsburgh is second in the Atlantic with 18 points.
The Penguins come into tonight's game on a three-game winning streak and are coming off Saturday's close win against the New York Islanders. Petr Sykora netted the only goal of the shootout to lift Pittsburgh to the 4-3 road win at Nassau Coliseum.
Tyler Kennedy had a pair of goals in regulation and Dany Sabourin made 19 saves through overtime and then came up with the three all-important shootout stops.
Doug Weight started things off with a backhander into the left pad and Sykora lifted a backhand shot over the glove of Joey MacDonald in close. Bill Guerin then had a forehand shot gloved by Sabourin and Miroslav Satan fired a wrist shot into the shoulder of MacDonald.
Trent Hunter had a chance to extend the session for New York and fired a low shot that got caught up in Sabourin's left pad. The play had to reviewed as the netminder slid back into his own net but it was eventually upheld.
Jordan Staal also found the back of the net for Pittsburgh, while Michael Zigomanis had two assists.
Pittsburgh has 4-2-1 identical records at both home and on the road this season. Tonight's test completes a brief two-game road trip and the Pens will then begin a three-game homestand Thursday evening against Philadelphia.
Detroit has won two straight and was last in action Saturday evening against visiting New Jersey. Marian Hossa had two goals to lead the Red Wings to a 3-1 decision over the Devils.
Hossa, who leads Detroit with 17 points this year, was a member of the Penguins during last spring's run to the Cup finals, but opted to sign a one- year deal with the Red Wings in the offseason.
Kirk Maltby scored for the Red Wings, who have also won seven of their last nine games. Chris Osgood made 24 saves to pick up his 369th career win to move into a tie with Tom Barrasso for 14th place on the all-time list.
The Red Wings are 3-1-1 as the host team this season and have won three straight at the Joe.