The Tampa Bay Lightning are in Detroit for their first of four meetings with the Red Wings this year. The Bolts (11-4-0) and Red Wings (9-5-3) have risen to the top of the new Atlantic Division in very different ways. Tonight’s contest between the new rivals should be a good one, as the Lightning look to win their fourth straight game.
While the Lightning did manage to squeak out a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday, the team will need to be a whole lot better if it wants to grab a win tonight against the Red Wings. Simply put, the Lightning didn’t manage the puck well against the Oilers; it almost cost them. Had it not been for the heroic play of Ben Bishop, the Lightning would have been looking at a big loss against one of the league’s worst teams.
The good news is that this 2013-14 Lightning team has shown a penchant for bouncing right back. There’s a sense of responsibility in the dressing room; every individual guy knows that he has to be better. If that state of mind can translate into on ice performance, the Bolts should be able to match up quite well with the Wings.
The Red Wings, for their part, come into tonight’s game having lost their last four home ice contests. Felled by the Dallas Stars, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, and San Jose Sharks, the Red Wings will be looking to get back on track at the Joe Louis Arena with a win against the Lightning. The team’s record in Motown simply isn’t good enough for a team that should be contending come playoff time.
Ben Bishop will once again start in net for the Lightning after his impressive run against the Oilers. Leading the NHL with ten wins this season, Bishop has done everything the coaching staff has asked of him and more. The lanky goaltender has given the Lightning a chance to win in nearly every one of his starts this year. The fact is, that for the first time in a long time, the Lightning seem to have a dependable starter back in the crease. For the players, it must be a nice feeling to have. For the fans, it’s sure nice to watch.
According to Erik Erlendsson, PC Labrie, Keith Aulie, and BJ Crombeen will be scratched tonight. That means Andrej Sustr will draw back into the lineup as the team’s seventh defender. Mark Barberio will continue to suit up, as well.
One big thing to follow tonight is the return of Valtteri Filppula. After being drafted by the Red Wings in 2002 and spending parts of eight seasons with that team, the Finnish forward signed a five year, $25MM contract with the Lightning this past summer. Since joining the Bolts, Filppula has been phenomenal. In addition to sitting third on the team in scoring with 12 points in 15 games, Filppula has been the steady defensive presence the Lightning had been missing for the last few years. Here’s hoping Filppula has a big night against his former team.
If, however, Filppula doesn’t manage to produce any offense tonight, other Lightning players should be able to pick up the slack. Steven Stamkos currently has 13 goals and 22 points in his 15 games this season, while Martin St. Louis is chugging along with 16 points in 15 games. Combine their production with that of depth guys like Teddy Purcell, Alex Killorn, and the Tampacuse folks, and it becomes pretty clear that the Lightning won’t be starved for goals this season.
Grabbing a victory from the Detroit Red Wings won’t be an easy task. While the Lightning do sit ahead of their division foes in the standings, the fact remains that the Red Wings are incredibly tough to beat. A win against the Wings means something. After all, Steve Yzerman is building this Lightning team using the Red Wings as a model.
As always, thanks for reading.