PREVIEW: Detroit hosts Pittsburgh Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on TNT/MAX

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings are a confident group heading into Wednesday’s matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Little Caesars Arena. 

“We know what we have in here,” Moritz Seider said. “We’re here to prove a lot of people wrong. It’s always fun to prove them wrong and have them second-guessing about their opinion. We’re a confident, but quiet, locker room.”

Puck drop between Detroit (2-1-0; 4 points) and Pittsburgh (2-1-0; 4 points) is set for 7:30 p.m., with TV broadcast airing on TNT and streaming available on MAX. Ken Kal and Paul Woods will be joined by reporter Daniella Bruce on the Red Wings Radio Network (97.1 The Ticket in Detroit).

All fans in attendance Wednesday will receive a 2023-24 Red Wings Magnet Schedule, presented by Belle Tire.

In Monday’s 4-0 shutout victory at the Columbus Blue Jackets, Shayne Gostisbehere, Michael Rasmussen, captain Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp all scored for Detroit while goalie James Reimer made 23 saves in his Red Wings debut.

“Balanced offense through our lineup, even from our back end too,” Detroit head coach Derek Lalonde said. “(Monday) was a perfect example. We did not play a very good first period but found a goal. A great play by Joe (Veleno), getting a goal from our blue line with Ghost (Gostisbehere) and we find ourselves up, 1-0.

“Got our game in order and then that balanced scoring began. So of course you want to try to find offense where you can. When you get it throughout your lineup, it’s certainly a positive.”

The Penguins last played Saturday, using a five-goal third period to defeat the Calgary Flames, 5-2. Netminder Alex Nedeljkovic, who played in Detroit from 2021-23, stopped 34 shots in his first start for Pittsburgh.

Evgeni Malkin and Jake Guentzel lead the Penguins with six points apiece, while Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust have each chipped in with three goals in three games.

“A really good challenge tonight," Lalonde said. "I like what Pittsburgh did. You watch them back in scout, you see their lineup. Obviously world-class top six, but I like what they did with their bottom six and d-core. This is a team looking to contend."

Last season, the Penguins finished fifth in the Metropolitan Division with a 40-31-11 (91 points) overall record. Pittsburgh failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2006, ending a 16-year postseason run.