PREVIEW: Red Wings set to host Penguins on Tuesday

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings will look to snap a three-game home losing streak on Tuesday night when they welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins to Little Caesars Arena.

Puck drop between Detroit (31-32-9; 71 points) and Pittsburgh (36-27-10; 82 points) is set for 7 p.m., with broadcast coverage on Bally Sports Detroit and the Red Wings Radio Network (97.1 The Ticket in Detroit).
A challenging stretch lies ahead for the Red Wings, who are scheduled to play four straight games against clubs still battling for playoff positioning. After facing the Penguins, Detroit will host the Metropolitan Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes (47-16-9) on Thursday before visiting the Winnipeg Jets (41-30-3) on Friday. The Red Wings will then travel to Toronto for an Original Six matchup on Sunday against the Maple Leafs (44-20-9).

"It's the reality of it," Detroit head coach Derek Lalonde said. "Guys are pushing hard. Our game is gonna have to ramp up."
The Red Wings are currently on the outside looking into the Eastern Conference Playoffs picture, but Lalonde said his players understand their situation.
"We will be huge underdogs," Lalonde said. "These will be tall tasks, but if you play the right way and limit mistakes, you give yourself a chance. That's the message against whoever we're playing."

Lalonde said that goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, who made 19 saves in Saturday's 3-0 shutout road loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, will make his second consecutive start for Detroit.
"Earned it," Lalonde said. "Warrants another start. We wanna kind of make it down the stretch here with both those guys (Nedeljkovic and Magnus Hellberg). If you play well, you give us a chance and get the net again."
On Saturday, the Penguins recovered after blowing a three-goal lead in the third period for a 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals.
Sidney Crosby paces Pittsburgh in assists (54) and points (85), while Jake Guentzel's 32 goals lead the club. The Penguins' goalie tandem of Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith has split time between the pipes this season. Jarry owns a 21-10-6 record with a 2.98 goals-against average and .908 save percentage, while DeSmith is 14-15-4 with a 3.11 GAA and .907 SV%.
Tuesday's matchup marks the second of three meetings between the clubs this season. Detroit outlasted Pittsburgh, 5-4, in overtime at PPG Paints Arena on Dec. 28. The Red Wings will conclude the season series against the Penguins at Little Caesars Arena on April 8.

Hirose recalled from Grand Rapids Griffins

On Tuesday morning, the Red Wings recalled Taro Hirose from the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions.
"(Filip) Zadina and (Alex) Chiasson are both unavailable," Lalonde said about the emergency recall. "Zadina could be a long-term issue. I think Chiasson will hopefully be available to us on Thursday."
Hirose has played in 64 games with Grand Rapids this season, tallying 54 points on 15 goals and 39 assists.
"To management's credit, when we've had all these injuries and call-ups, there was a part of them that wanted Taro to be the guy because of his play," Lalonde said. "It came down to position, with (Austin) Czarnik being a center and (Matt) Luff being a bigger wing. Timing is perfect."