The Tampa Bay Lightning and the Detroit Red Wings faced off for the fifth and final time Thursday night. In the four previous meetings, the season the Lightning were able to win all four, including as recently as March 24th in Detroit.
While Detroit recently saw their 25-consecutive playoff appearance streak come to an end, Tampa’s playoff hopes continued to show life. Lightning Captain Steven Stamkos was recently upgraded from injured reserve to day to day. With only five games remaining following the Red Wings game, bringing Stamkos back this season may not be the best option for the team. Following his lateral meniscus tear earlier in the season. During warm-ups, it was also announced forward Nikita Kucherov was sick and would be able to play.
Neither team truly gained an edge early in the first period. Luke Witkowski and Anthony Mantha would drop the gloves before JT Brown and Xavier Ouellet did the same. Every game this season has seemed very chippy at times and this game was no different. Under five minutes into the game the Bolts defense allowed Frans Nielsen to stand smack dab in front of Vasilevskiy, seconds later the Red Wings were celebrating a 1-0 lead after Nielsen took a Darren Helm slot pass and buried it behind Vasilevskiy. Shots on goal would favor the Lightning the entire first period, but it never seemed they were able to sustain pressure in the offensive zone for very long. With just about a minute remaining in the first period, Gabriel Dumont and JT Brown would show some nice touch passing in Detroit’s zone. Brown would skate up to Detroit goaltender Petr Mrazek and bury the puck glove side to tie the game 1-1.
The second period would be a different beast for the Bolts. Tampa would spend most of the first two plus minutes in Detroit’s defensive zone. It would result in an Andrej Sustr goal. Ondrej Palat would take a a shot the bounced off Mrazek right to Sustr’s stick. The Lightning would take an early 2-1 lead in the second. Detroit and Tampa would trade scoring chances throughout the second period, while Justin Abdelkader would be well what he is can’t be said on a professional website. The Red Wings forward would cause a little ruckus in front of Vasilevskiy, before he and Jake Dotchin would head to the penalty boxes both men with roughing penalties. About a minute later Danny Dekeyser would slip a puck past Vasilevskiy to tie the game 2-2. With around four minutes left in the second Dylan Larkin would give either team their first power play of the game with a penalty for roughing, however 25 seconds into the power play Alex Killorn would score. Killorn would take a shot that would dig off the left post behind Mrazek. Danny Dekeyser would try to knock the puck out of the goalie crease before inadvertently knocking it in to his own net for a 3-2 Lightning lead.
Well… A goal’s a goal! #DETvsTBL pic.twitter.com/Nj0ajgGMTE
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 31, 2017
Two minutes later following a cross checking penalty on Danny Dekeyser, Jonathan Drouin would notch his 21st goal of the season to extend the Bolts lead 4-2.
The Lightning started the 3rd period down a man as Vlad Namestnikov would get a immediate slashing call at the 20:00 mark. Tampa was able to burn the Red Wings power play and return to even strength. Barely six minutes into the third period Yanni Gourde would continue his mini hot streak. Mike Green would get Detroit close off a power play goal, but unfortunately the two goal lead at that point was too much for Detroit to overcome. Tampa would sweep the season series for the first time in franchise history.
Up Next – Saturday April 1st vs the Montreal Canadiens.
Three Stars of the Game
1st Star: Jonathan Drouin: Had the game winning goal for his 21st of the season.
2nd Star: Alex Killorn: May not have “Technically” scored it himself, ultimately he was credited with the goal Dekeyser put into his own net.
3rd Star: JT Brown: Scored the games opening goal for the Lightning.
