Veteran winger Gary Roberts says the Penguins need to pressure the Red Wings' defence and force turnovers. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

Nashville, Colorado and Dallas couldn't keep the puck away from the Detroit Red Wings, so what does Pittsburgh have up its sleeve?

For starters, they'll turn to their inspirational leader, the energetic Gary Roberts, who will at least attempt to knock the Red Wings off the puck using his six-foot-two, 215-pound frame.

Roberts, 42, will be in the lineup Monday for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final at Detroit (8 p.m. ET, CBC, CBCSports.ca) after sitting the best-of-seven opener as a healthy scratch.

It will mark the first Cup final appearance for the 20-year NHL veteran since 1989 when Roberts and the Calgary Flames bested Montreal in six games.

"I know what I need to do to be successful," Roberts, who has 92 points in 125 NHL playoff games, told the Detroit News on Sunday. "This [Detroit] team we're playing against is really smart. They move the puck very well. They don't give you lots of opportunities to hit them.

"We've got to key on getting more pressure on their 'D' and force them to make some turnovers. We haven't done that. Other teams haven't been able to do that. That's our challenge."

Roberts reportedly was seething at being benched for Saturday's game, which he watched on a 21-inch television at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena.

Roberts's return is 'huge': teammate

After missing the final three games of the Eastern Conference final against the Philadelphia Flyers with pneumonia, Roberts will try to bring a physical presence to the Pittsburgh lineup.

He will take the place of tough guy Georges Laraque and play on the Penguins' fourth line with Jarkko Ruutu and Adam Hall.

"It's huge," said teammate Max Talbot of Roberts's return. "He's been a leader for us all year. He's a warrior out there.

"Just looking at his eyes when, let's say, he makes a big hit or makes a goal. You have shivers. He's got that look in his face that he's through a lot and he's a warrior. He always gives us a lot of energy."

Roberts, who had 15 points in 38 regular-season games before breaking his leg, has managed three points in six contests in this year's playoffs while also battling a groin injury.

The insertion of Roberts is just one in a series of changes Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien deemed necessary after watching his club get outshot 25-7 in the final two periods and 36-19 overall in a 4-0 Game 1 setback.

Talbot, normally the Penguins' fourth-line centre, will move to the wing alongside slumping Evgeni Malkin and Petr Sykora, while No. 2 winger Ryan Malone gets a promotion to the left side on the top unit with captain Sidney Crosby and Marian Hossa.

"Every team has to make adjustments through the course of the playoffs," Therrien said, defending his moves. "And we believe those adjustments are going to help us to get success."

Detroit, which has won eight of nine home games in this year's post-season, will also receive a boost with the return of third-year centre Johan Franzen.

Franzen took part in Monday's skate before he was cleared to play after battling concussion-like symptoms. On Sunday, Franzen said he had been symptom-free for seven to 10 days.

Nicknamed Mule, the six-foot-three, 218-pound Franzen hasn't played since persistent headaches forced him out of the lineup before Game 2 of the West final.

Swede success: 27 for 27

With 12 goals, Franzen is tied with teammate Henrik Zetterberg for the NHL lead in this year's playoffs. The big Swede is riding a remarkable streak with 27 goals in 27 games dating back to the regular season.

The Penguins' Malkin was also on a torrid pace earlier in the playoffs with 17 points in 10 starts, but has registered only two points in his last five outings.

With Crosby effectively checked by Kris Draper in Game 1, it would appear Pittsburgh needs the Russian star more than ever.

"I need to be more physical," Malkin told reporters Sunday. "Have to hit, pressure defenceman."

Fifteen teams that lost Game 1 of the final have rebounded to win the Stanley Cup since the league adopted a best-of-seven format in 1939. One of those was the 1991 Penguins, who lost the opener to Minnesota.