Tampa Bay Lightning Head To Detroit For Game Three

Game three of the first round NHL playoff series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Detroit Red Wings is Tuesday night. The series shifts from Amalie Arena to the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. There are some who say that game three is the pivotal game in a playoff series when the series is tied. There are others that say the critical game is game five. They are all important.

Does anyone really think that the Lightning would not want a do-over on game one? Does anyone think that the Detroit players and fans are not counting themselves fortunate to be tied at this point?

Win a playoff game and the pressure mounts on the other squad. Lose a playoff game and players begin to feel like their back is up against the wall. Much like the game itself, momentum shifts from one team to the other team and the team that holds Big Mo the longest during critical moments in the games and series will usually live on to play and the other team will begin to set up tee times.

So, I have to say that I am feeling a little confident in the Lightning. What is the saying: You are only as good as your last game? While, some may argue that the Lightning played better as a team in the first game than in game two, nobody could make that same argument for Detroit.

The Red Wings knew they stole game one and they upped their energy and their focus in game two. Expect more of the game two Wings than the game one Wings in game three. In the series opener, much was made about the fact that the Red Wings only had 14 shots on goal.

You could not expect them to repeat that low production in game two. They did not. They had 24 shots on goal in game two. Here is the issue for Detroit. Aside, from losing game two badly by a score of 5 to 1, their two game average of 19 SOG is nine fewer than their regular season average.

The Lightning on the other hand are averaging 38 SOG, which is eight better than their season average. Based on these numbers, the point can be made that Tampa is hungrier than Detroit in this series. But, I’ll give you two reasons for this disparity. First, the Tampa team speed.

The speed of many of the Lightning players is clearly evident on the offensive side of things. Tyler Johnson breaking away from three Detroit defenders for his second goal near the end of the second period in game two is an example of Tampa simply being too fast for Detroit, but I see the Tampa speed on the defensive side as well.

One example where I see it is in blocked shots. During the four regular season games between these two teams, Tampa averaged 10 blocked shots a game. Detroit averaged a little better at 10.5 per game. In the two playoff games, the Lightning are averaging 14.5 per game and the Red Wings are blocking 11.5 per game.

Both teams have increased their season average against the opponent but a 38% increase in this critical factor versus a 14% increase shows a couple of things. First, the Tampa Bay Lightning are playing like they want this series more and they are showing their speed to get in the shooting lanes quicker than Detroit.

For game three, I definitely see a closer game than game two. Although, I do believe that the Lighting is a better team, the atmosphere at the Joe will be hostile. Especially, if Tampa takes the early lead. Aside from flying octopi, there will be a loud and angry crowd to deal with on the road.

I said in my game two preview that Ben Bishop would bounce back and he did to the tune of a .960 save percentage in Tampa’s victory. I also said Petr Mrazek would come down to earth after his otherworldly performance in game one. He did as he was chased from the game after two periods which saw him give up 4 goals in 18 shots.

I do believe Bishop will continue to be on his game and Mrazek will continue to feel the pressure of playoff hockey. I continue to see that Detroit will not have an answer to the team speed of Tampa. This game will come down to how well the relatively young Tampa players (youngest average age of all playoff teams) handle their first road playoff game.

My brother, George who is a die-hard Blackhawks fan, tells me you can throw out all regular season stats except one. His theory is that for a team to win the Stanley Cup, they must be able to win on the road, and he tells me the Lightning cannot do that. He says their road record was average.

So, aside from infuriating me, I dig deeper into those road stats and see that the Tampa Bay Lightning have won at the Joe this year. They won in Madison Square Garden and the Bell Centre in Montreal. They have won in Anaheim and Vancouver and Winnipeg. Tampa can win on the road.

They have won in some very difficult buildings to win. They will begin to show that to all hockey fans Tuesday night at the Joe, they will show that they are Cup-ready. Puck drops at 7:00 p.m.

Next: Tyler Johnson Lasers A Breakaway Goal (Video)

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