The Detroit Red Wings had no answer for Jonathan Drouin in Game 3. The Tampa Bay Lightning youngster led his team to a 3-2 win and a commanding 3-1 series lead on Tuesday.
Lightning vs. Red Wings 2016 final score: Jonathan Drouin pushes Detroit to the brink
Tampa Bay took a 3-1 series lead in a Game 3 win.
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Drouin had three assists, including the helper on the game-winning goal. Nikita Kucherov was at the receiving end of two of them. Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek was admirable but imperfect in net, stopping 30 of 33 shots in the loss. Tampa Bay can win the series and advance with a win on Thursday at home.
Kucherov opened the scoring for the third time in the series. With the Lightning on an early power play, Kucherov one-timed a pass through traffic from Tyler Johnson past Mrazek for a 1-0 lead. Detroit nearly struck back minutes later with a 2-on-1, but Bishop shut it down.
Detroit began undoing their own positive momentum in the second period. A power play was instantly negated when Mrazek tripped a player behind the net. More penalty trouble struck midway through the frame. With Riley Sheahan in the sin bin, the Lightning carved Detroit’s penalty kill up for a second goal. Mrazek expected Jonathan Drouin to shoot at a wide open net, and when he moved to cover Drouin fired to Kucherov for the one-timer goal and a 2-0 lead.
Sheahan redeemed himself with seconds left in the period. Sheahan and Gustav Nyquist’s strong forecheck forced a turnover deep in the Lightning zone, and Sheahan dished to Nyquist for the equalizer.
The Red Wings came within inches of taking the lead when Dylan Larkin's backhand shot rang off the post with six minutes left. That would haunt them, as Drouin found winger Ondrej Palat for the game-winning power play goal just minutes later.
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