It took the final game of the preseason for the Pens to experience their first loss of the new season. But let's be honest - it doesn't count for much at this point anyway. Still, a 5-1 record over six preseason games is at least encouraging, especially when you consider how many new faces received playing time, how many veterans played minimal minutes and the sort of teams Pittsburgh went up against.

In the final game against Detroit Sunday evening, the Pens found themselves in a 2-1 hole heading into the second period after Detroit's Gustav Nyquist and Johan Franzen sandwiched goals around Paul Martin's unassisted snapper six minutes into the game.

This Nyquist guy (admittedly I didn't know much about him before tonight - probably because he's a young up-and-comer) slammed another one home on the power play in the second period to give the Wings a 3-1 edge. Tyler Kennedy's tip-in with 50 seconds remaining in the game would be the closest Pittsburgh would get to closing the gap.

All in all, a solid way to close out the preseason as Marc-Andre Fleury started between the pipes for Pittsburgh and Jimmy Howard got the nod for Detroit. Another good showing from Steve Sullivan, as he picked up an assist on Kennedy's goal, for what stands as his third point in two games (1g, 2a).

The regular season kicks off Thursday night when the Pens open up on a west coast swing in Vancouver. That one will be on Versus at 10 ET, so you best be joining us for the game thread that night as well.