Feeding off the energy of their home crowd, the Red Wings were able to win their first game of the playoffs 2-0 thanks to a strong offensive effort.
Lightning vs. Red Wings 2016 results: Strong showing at home for Detroit leads to 2-0 victory
Tampa Bay’s lack of discipline stalled any potential momentum.
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Replacing Jimmy Howard, Petr Mrazek was largely untested thanks to a 30-16 shot advantage for the Red Wings.
Like the first two games of the series, the tensions were high and the hits were hard. Just ask Cedric Paquette how he felt after getting rocked by Brendan Smith on the playoffs best ox hit so far.
Smith hit on Paquette pic.twitter.com/jHSlcZ8LBl
— Stephanie (@myregularface) April 17, 2016
Though both teams were held off the scoreboard in the first, the Red Wings had the jump that often comes from playing at home for the first time in a series. A key 5-on-3 penalty kill and the strong play of Ben Bishop — who faced 12 shots in the first — were up to the task of shutting down Detroit in the opening 20.
Andreas Athanasiou, who had been visible all game long for the Red Wings, finally got Detroit on the board first for the first time in the series. After a solid recapture of the puck by Detroit, Athanasiou let go a booming slap shot from the left circle that caught Ben Bishop cheating off the post.
Captain Henrik Zetterberg made it 2-0 for the Red Wings after a goalmouth scramble saw Bishop out of position. The netminder was unable to set himself properly before a double deflection off the Detroit forward’s skate found its way through his five-hole to end the second.
Despite some pressure in the third period, Mrazek and company held as Detroit cut the Lightning series lead to 2-1. The Lightning were ultimately outdone by their lack of discipline, as they gave the Red Wings seven power play opportunities.
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