Detroit Red Wings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: Game Review September 29, 2025
The Detroit Red Wings‘ late-game push fell short as they dropped a 2-1 decision to the Pittsburgh Penguins in preseason action at Little Caesars Arena on Monday night. Despite outshooting the visitors 22-20, Detroit couldn’t overcome a two-goal deficit in front of 15,244 fans.
Game Summary
The Penguins struck early when Ben Kindel found the back of the net at 3:40 of the opening period, finishing a crisp 3-on-2 rush with a wrist shot past Red Wings goaltender John Gibson. Ryan Shea and Avery Hayes picked up assists on the play that put Pittsburgh ahead 1-0.
Pittsburgh doubled their advantage in the second period when Tommy Novak made it 2-0 at 4:38. The puck deflected off Novak in front of Detroit’s crease and rolled into the net, with Filip Hallander and Philip Tomasino credited with the assists.
The Red Wings finally broke through late in the third period when Dominik Shine scored at 16:20, reducing the deficit to 2-1. Ian Mitchell set up the goal with a beautiful pass, threading the puck through multiple Penguins defenders to find Shine, who executed a skillful deke before beating Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry.
Detroit pulled Gibson for an extra attacker in the final 3:12, but couldn’t find the equalizer despite sustained pressure.
Standout Performances
Tristan Jarry (PIT): Stopped 21 of 22 shots, coming within minutes of recording a shutout before Shine’s late goal.
John Gibson (DET): Making his first appearance at Little Caesars Arena since joining the Red Wings, Gibson turned aside 18 of 20 shots in a solid if unspectacular performance.
Dominik Shine (DET): Named second star of the game after scoring Detroit’s lone goal with an impressive display of stickhandling in tight quarters.
Ben Kindel (PIT): Earned third star honors with his first-period goal that set the tone for Pittsburgh.
Tommy Novak (PIT): Named first star after scoring what proved to be the game-winning goal.
Ian Mitchell (DET): Though not named among the stars, Mitchell’s creative playmaking was highlighted by coach Todd McLellan: “He plays with a little bit of risk. He’s always been that way. He’s a visionary guy. He’s got a pretty good shot and can read and react.”
Coach’s Perspective
Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan was blunt in his assessment: “I thought we looked slow and sloppy. I don’t know which caused what. Sometimes, the legs move you around the rink slow and sometimes the sloppiness causes you to be disjointed. We were both, and I thought [the Penguins] looked quicker and a little more determined on pucks. At the end of the night, we got what we deserved.”
McLellan did note moments of improved play: “There were moments, I thought, early in the game where we were okay then we faded. End of the second, maybe 4-5 minutes left, we kind of went after them a little bit. And then at the end of the game, after we scored, we got excited about playing again. Pretty indifferent night for us.”
Player Insights
John Gibson, who joined Detroit in the offseason, spoke about adjusting to his new team: “Tonight was a little tough, just scrambling and everything like that. It’s nice to get out there, get used to the building and everything like that. Just trying to get my reps in and doing everything I can to make sure that I’m ready to go for the first game.”
On building chemistry with his new teammates, Gibson added: “Since we got back from Traverse City, we’ve kind of had one group together so just kind of getting more reps with the guys rather than the split team.”
Game Statistics
The physical nature of the game was evident with Detroit recording 30 hits to Pittsburgh’s 28. The Red Wings also dominated in the faceoff circle, winning 58.8% of draws compared to Pittsburgh’s 41.2%.
Both teams were disciplined, with each taking just two minor penalties for a total of 4 penalty minutes apiece.
Looking Ahead
The Red Wings continue their preseason schedule with a back-to-back matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on Tuesday night, while the Penguins improve to 3-1-1 in exhibition play.
With the regular season fast approaching, both teams are fine-tuning their lineups and systems. For Detroit, currently sitting at 2-3-0 in preseason action, there’s clearly work to be done before the games start counting in the standings.
Photos: Tim Jarrold – In Play! magazine
