Tampa Bay Lightning In Search Of Continued Success In Detroit
The Tampa Bay Lightning head to the Joe Louis Arena in search of continued success in a rematch with Henrik Zetterberg and the Detroit Red Wings.
The Tampa Bay Lightning seemed to find their groove on Sunday night as they pulled out all the stops and overcame the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in Raleigh. Tomorrow night, the Tampa Bay Lightning head out on the road once again as they travel to the storied Joe Louis Arena to face off with the Detroit Red Wings.
As most of you are aware, there is plenty of history between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Detroit Red Wings. Last season, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Detroit Red Wings met a total of four times in the regular season. The Lightning were victorious in their first three encounters; however, the Red Wings got the better of the Bolts in the final weeks of the regular season when they shut out the Bolts 4-0 at the Joe.
Thankfully, this wasn’t the end of the road between these two teams. In the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Tampa Bay Lightning would battle the Red Wings once again, taking Games Six and Seven to continue on and eventually become the 2015 Eastern Conference Champions.
This season, things seem to have taken a wrong turn for the Tampa Bay Lightning when it comes to the Detroit Red Wings. On October 13th, the Lightning traveled to the Joe Louis Arena on the back half of a back-to-back series where the Red Wings defeated the Lightning 3-1.
Hopefully, as the Bolts head into the Joe Louis Arena tomorrow night to do battle with the Red Wings for the second time this season, they can keep the same level of success they obtained on Sunday night against the Hurricanes and bring home another two points.
It’s pretty safe to say the Detroit Red Wings are going to have something to say about this. While the Red Wings place in the Atlantic Division standings isn’t much to write home about at the moment, this doesn’t mean there aren’t a few reasons the Bolts need to bring their “A” game tomorrow night. One of those reasons is named Henrik Zetterberg.
In the eleven games the Red Wings captain has played in this season, he has already managed to score three goals and 11 assists for a total of 14 points. Zetterberg currently leads the Wings in assists and overall points, and is in a six-way tie for first place in the National Hockey League in assists. While he may not be the sniper that Lightning captain Steven Stamkos is, he certainly has an uncanny playmaking ability.
When placed on a line with players like Red Wings center Dylan Larkin and left wing Justin Abdelkader, Henrik Zetterberg could be the catalyst for a difficult night for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
On the other hand, the Tampa Bay Lightning seem to have found their way back to the right path. Earlier today, we told you about five things we believe the Tampa Bay Lightning need to do in order to get back (and stay) on the right track towards a successful season. If the Bolts can just keep the momentum in their favor and continue on this path, they should have no trouble overcoming the obstacle placed in front of them tomorrow.
As of right now, the Tampa Bay Lightning will be taking the ice without the help of two of their key players. Tampa Bay Lightning center Cedric Paquette and left wing Jonathan Drouin are still listed as day-to-day with a Lower Body Injury. There is always the possibility things could change after the team’s morning skate tomorrow, but there are no guarantees at this point.
Jonathan Drouin has really stepped his game up this season, sticking to his words about making an impact in the 2015-16 season. In the 10 games he’s played so far this season, Drouin has scored one goal and five assists for a total of six points. Unfortunately, just as it seemed like he was developing chemistry with Steven Stamkos, he was sidelined with his current injury. It would certainly be a benefit to get him back against the Red Wings tomorrow night, but we will have to wait and see.
Right now, it is Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman who is holding it down for the Bolts in terms of points. In the 12 games the six foot six inch tall Swedish defenseman has played so far this season, he has registered 10 assists to accompany a plus-2 rating. Right on Hedman’s tail is captain Steven Stamkos, who has already scored six goals and 2 assists for a total of eight points.
The Tampa Bay Lightning know exactly what needs to be done in order to be successful tomorrow night against the Detroit Red Wings, all they have to do is execute properly. As Jon Cooper said last night after the Lightning’s win in Raleigh, “You felt our swag coming back during the game.” (via Joe Smith/Tampa Bay Times)
If the Tampa Bay Lightning can keep that same “swag” going against the Red Wings, the Bolts should have no difficulty in electrifying the Wings and continuing their road trip in style.
Next: Five Things The Lightning Need To Do To Get Back On Track
The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow night. For all the latest news, updates, and commentary on the Tampa Bay Lightning, make sure to stay connected right here to Bolts By The Bay.