Updated repeatedly at 11:10 AM: The Detroit Red Wings play two games in two different locations tonight as the team will host the Pittsburgh Penguins at Little Caesars Arena (7 PM EDT on DetroitRedWings.com/PittsburghPenguins.com), and a “split squad” of players will head to Buffalo to battle the Sabres (7 PM EDT on DetroitRedWings.com).
Things are going to be a little confusing tonight as both games will air on the Red Wings’ website:
Double the games, double the fun!
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 30, 2024
đź“Ť @ Buffalo | 7 PM
đź“Ť Vs. Pittsburgh | 7 PM
🎟️: https://t.co/ZTtCRKFpbQ
*Both games will be available to stream on the #RedWings app & https://t.co/jLX5LxapNh! pic.twitter.com/dmKnRy8w79
Split squad action tonight as the Red Wings face off against the Sabres in Buffalo 7pm, and Pittsburgh @LCA at 7pm. Busy week. Red Wings play 6 games in 6 days.
— Ken Kal (@KenKalDRW) September 30, 2024
FYI:
ICYMI: Tickets for Saturday’s scheduled game will be valid for tonight’s game at Little Caesars Arena.
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 30, 2024
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Seth Rorabaugh posted the Pens’ roster for tonight’s game in Detroit…
The group the Penguins will send (or attempt) to Detroit tonight: pic.twitter.com/Zfc3mHZ9IS
— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) September 30, 2024
Pensburgh is already complaining about the Wings’ potential lineup (Pittsburgh’s stars played in a Kraft Hockeyville game vs. Ottawa in Sudbury, Ontario last night)…
The Penguins are using a very similar lineup from what they initially planned on having for tonight’s makeup game in Detroit.
— PensBurgh (@Pensburgh) September 30, 2024
But the Red Wings went a different direction and loaded up with NHL talent for tonight.https://t.co/39Ux0xezmd
The game in Buffalo will feature the Sabres’ “B Team” as their stars are in Czechia, preparing for the NHL’s Global Series:
The Buffalo Sabres have announced the team's roster for tonight's game vs. Detroit. pic.twitter.com/5rN5nvzQho
— Sabres PR (@SabresPR) September 30, 2024
Update: BuffaloSabres.com’s Andrew Mossbrooks posted a game preview. Of note from his three storylines:
2. Veteran presence
The Sabres have five players in Monday’s lineup with over 200 games of professional experience. On offense, Brett Murray, Mason Jobst, and Brendan Warren combine for 735 games across the NHL, AHL, and ECHL. Jobst scored a goal and added an assist in Buffalo’s game against Columbus Saturday, while Murray finished fourth in time on ice with 17:38.
On the back end, Ethan Prow is the elder statesman with over 400 games played, while Colton Poolman has skated in 213 AHL contests. Poolman was inked to a one-year, two-way deal in July after playing his first four professional seasons in the Calgary Flames organization. Prow has been with the Sabres organization since the 2021-22 season and appeared in four games for Buffalo that season. He has worn a letter for the Rochester Americans in each of his first three seasons with the team.
3. Seeing red
Detroit skates into KeyBank Center Monday evening with a 2-0-0 record in preseason play with back-to-back wins over Chicago last week. After travel issues forced their preseason game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night to be rescheduled, Detroit will play two games tonight, one at home in Detroit and one in Buffalo. The Red Wings will feature a split-squad roster, and it’s expected that the majority of their NHL team will remain in Detroit.
In Pittsburgh, the Penguins hit the ice before the Red Wings did…
Noel Acciari is part of the Penguins' morning skate, Centering McGroarty and Puljujarvi pic.twitter.com/2XBRqNJ4dy
— Dan Kingerski (@TheDanKingerski) September 30, 2024
Game group out for a morning skate ahead of tonight’s preseason makeup game in Detroit.
— Josh Getzoff (@JG_PxP) September 30, 2024
O’Connor-Eller-Puustinen
Ponomarev-Broz-Bemstrom
McGroarty-Acciari-Puljujarvi
AHayes-Huntington-Andonovski
Rotating group of defensemen pic.twitter.com/3hABxCXMFD
Penguins lines at the skate:
— Matt Vensel (@mattvensel) September 30, 2024
DOC-Eller-Puustinen
Ponomarev-Broz-Bemstrom
McGroarty-Acciari-Puljujarvi
A. Hayes-Huntington-Andonovski
Defense is rotating: Graves, St. Ivany, Aho, Shea, Ludvig and Hollowell
Then the Red Wings’ “first group” took to the ice…
Red Wings lines for Group 1
— Connor Earegood (@ConnorEaregood) September 30, 2024
Forwards:
Debrincat Larkin Raymond
Tarasenko Danielson Kane
Rasmussen Copp Fischer
Berggren Kasper Mazur
Defense:
Chiarot Seider
Johansson Petry
Maatta Gustafsson
Goalies: Talbot, Cossa, Alexander
No indication whether this will be the Pittsburgh or Buffalo group. The number of NHLers makes me think home, but the early practice time makes me think away. Will update when I know for certain.
— Connor Earegood (@ConnorEaregood) September 30, 2024
Power plays:
— Connor Earegood (@ConnorEaregood) September 30, 2024
Raymond
Debrincat Larkin Kane
Gustafsson
Mazur
Berggren Copp Tarasenko
Seider
Dan Watson will be coaching the team playing in Buffalo, during this split-squad night #LGRW @DetroitRedWings
— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) September 30, 2024
(It’s the home group)
Red Wings lineup for tonight's game at LCA vs. Penguins:
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) September 30, 2024
DeBrincat-Larkin-Raymond
Tarasenko-Danielson-Kane
Rasmussen-Copp-Fischer
Mazur-Kasper-Berggren
Chiarot-Seider
Johansson-Petry
Määttä-Gustafsson
Talbot & Cossa
Other group slated to play tonight's game in Buffalo.
#RedWings power play units for tonight’s home game vs. Penguins:
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) September 30, 2024
1. Raymond (net front), Larkin (bumper), DeBrincat-Kane (flanks), Gustafsson (point).
2. Mazur (net front), Copp (bumper), Berggren-Tarasenko (flanks), Seider (point). pic.twitter.com/cLYGctAtHr
And in Buffalo, per Buffalo Hockey Beat’s Bill Hoppe:
Forwards: Helenius, Ostlund, Rosen, Ty Cheveldayoff, Josh Dunne, Mason Jobst, Aleksandr Kisakov, Brett Murray, Olivier Nadeau, Viktor Neuchev, Graham Slaggert, Anton Wahlberg and Brendan Warren.
Defense: Vsevolod Komarov, Noah Laaouan, Zach Metsa, Nikita Novikov, Colton Poolman, Ethan Prow and Jack Rathbone.
Goalies: Scott Ratzlaff and Felix Sandstrom.