"We obviously liked [Kessel's] game tonight," Sullivan said. "He was on the puck. He's a threat, you know? He's got such a great shot whether it's off the rush, underneath the hashmarks or as part of the cycle game."
Matt Cullen was given credit for an empty-net goal as he was tripped heading to the net to make it 5-3 with 40.9 seconds to play.
The Penguins (15-7-3) won consecutive games for the first time since defeating the San Jose Sharks Nov. 5 and Edmonton Oilers Nov. 8.
The Red Wings (11-11-3) lost in regulation for the first time in six games.
"[The Penguins] definitely put the pressure on," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "And honestly, if you really look at it, there were times in the first period when it was the same way. I actually thought we had a decent amount of chances throughout the game. … But we have to do a better job of going north."
Henrik Zetterberg backhanded a shot off Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury's left arm and into the net for his fifth goal of the season with 6:29 remaining in the first period.
Seven seconds after a Penguins power play expired, Frans Nielsen gave the Red Wings a 2-0 lead when he charged to the left circle and shot over Fleury's glove 8:00 into the second period.
Three minutes later, Evgeni Malkin set up Kessel, who cut Detroit's lead to 2-1. Kessel one-timed a shot past goalie Jared Coreau, who made 32 saves in his NHL debut.