The Tampa Bay Lightning earned a comeback win in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series on Wednesday night, and look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night at Amalie Arena in Florida.
Red Wings vs. Lightning, 2016 NHL playoffs: Game 2 time, TV schedule and live stream
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Down 2-1 in the second period, Tampa Bay used goals by Nikita Kucherov and Alex Kilorn to take Game 1, thanks in large part to 34 saves by goaltender Ben Bishop.
Kucherov scored two goals in Game 1 against Detroit, two more than he had in last season's first-round series between these two teams. Kucherov did have four assists in the series last year, including three in Game 6, a road win by the Lightning that allowed them to return home and win a decisive Game 7, en route to an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final.
A win on Friday night would go a long way in ensuring Tampa Bay won’t need seven games to dispatch Detroit for a second straight year.
Tampa Bay also held Detroit to 0-for-5 on the power play in Game 1.
“We created chances. I thought we had some good ones, but you always want to see at least one goal there,” Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg told the Associated Press. “There were a few where we only had a few seconds on the power play, but that’s how it goes.”
Tampa Bay was 25-13-3 at home during the regular season, and their season series with the Red Wings went according to home ice. Counting Game 1, the Lightning won all three games against the Red Wings at home, with Detroit prevailing in both contests at Joe Louis Arena.
Red Wings vs. Lightning Game 2 coverage
7 p.m. ET | Game 2, Eastern Conference Round 1
Amalie Arena | Tampa
Local: Fox Sports Detroit, Fox Sports Florida | National: CNBC, CBC
Live stream at NBC Sports Live Extra
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