The Tampa Bay Lightning Power Play was front and center as the Lightning defeated the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 in Game 4 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Tampa Bay Lightning really looked like they had the fire and determination to put this series to bed in four games. Unfortunately, when the Tampa Bay Lightning took the ice at the Joe Louis Arena to take on the Detroit Red Wings in Game 3 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs, it seemed as if the Lightning’s flame had been extinguished and they needed to be reminded how to execute playoff hockey.
If the Lightning had any hope of taking a stranglehold on this series and heading home to the Amalie Arena with a 3-1 series lead over the Red Wings, there were quite a few things that would need to be done before they could even hope to make this scenario come to fruition. Thankfully, as the puck hit the ice to start Game 4, the Tampa Bay Lightning looked like they were ready to fight, more so, they were ready to win.
The Tampa Bay Lightning hit the ice with intensity from the very moment the first puck dropped. The Bolts were aggressive with the puck and continued to make Red Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek work for each and every save he made. The good news for the Tampa Bay Lightning is it wouldn’t take long before Mrazek would break.
The Lightning found themselves with the first power play of the game after Red Wings left wing Justin Abdelkader, who definitely has no love from Tampa Bay Lightning fans, made his way to the penalty box for two minutes for holding Lightning defenseman Nikita Nesterov. Just nine seconds into the penalty, Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov would make the Red Wings pay with his fourth goal of the postseason.
Nikita Kucherov has scored the opening goal in every game with the exception of Game 3. Kucherov’s tenacity and multi-point nights are just a few of the reasons why Nikita Kucherov has quickly made the transition from young rookie to Tampa Bay Lightning’s clutch player.
In a much different turn of events from Game 3, when the final buzzer sounded to end the first period of play, the Tampa Bay Lightning would outshoot the Detroit Red Wings 14-10. The Red Wings gained a lot of their ground in the later moments of the period. Throughout the first half, it was all about the Lightning.
Now we come to the period that has been the bane of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s existence since the start of the playoffs, the second period. Purely judging by the way the Lightning has been playing since the inception of the playoffs, this is where the Tampa Bay Lightning start to fall apart. It’s clear the Red Wings came into the period with a renewed energy; however, penalties would leave them vulnerable once again.
This time, it would be Red Wings center Riley Sheahan who would be headed to the box for two minutes for Slashing Lightning defenseman Braydon Coburn. With just 36 seconds left in the power play, Nikita Kucherov would once again unleash the fury and give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 2-0 lead over the Red Wings heading into the final 10 minutes of the second period.
Unfortunately, unlike the first period of play, the Red Wings had no intention of making their way into the second intermission without making their way on the scoreboard first. There was just a little more than five minutes left on the clock when Red Wings center Darren Helm would beat Tampa Bay Lightning netminder Ben Bishop and get the Red Wings on the board.
It seemed as if these two teams would head into the second intermission with the Tampa Bay Lightning maintaining their 2-1 lead over the Red Wings; however, when a team gets complacent is the moment they find themselves at their most vulnerable state. There were a mere nine seconds left on the clock when the Red Wings would tie things up with a goal from right wing Gustav Nyquist.
Surprisingly enough, despite the Red Wings resurgence in the final moments of the second period, the Tampa Bay Lightning would once again outshoot the Red Wings; this time, it would be 11-8. This gives the Tampa Bay Lightning a two-period lead of 25-18 in shots on goal. It’s definitely nice to see the Lightning making Mrazek actually work tonight, but they are going to have to find a way to make him crumble if they want to come out on top.
Now, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Detroit Red Wings would come out for the third period of play on an even keel. If there is anything this series has proven, it’s the third period of play has been the most explosive. At this point, this game could go either way. The truth of the matter is the game will go to the team that strikes the fastest and the hardest.
The third period of play had to be the most exhausting period Tampa Bay Lightning fans have ever endured, and we are even taking into considering the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals. The Tampa Bay Lightning spent much of the third period chasing down the Red Wings and attempting to keep them out of the back of the net. It wasn’t until the final three minutes of the game until things would really heat up for the Bolts.
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson would find himself with a one-way ticket to the sin bin for cross-checking Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat in front of the net. Ironically enough, it would be Ondrej Palat who would tip in a shot from Jonathan Drouin, who had assists on all three Lightning goals tonight, and give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 lead heading into the final minutes of play.
Tampa Bay Lightning fans would sit breathless on the edge of their seats as the time continued to tick off the clock. The Lightning only had to hold off the onslaught of the Red Wings for three minutes. Three minutes stood between the Tampa Bay Lightning and victory. As the final buzzer sounded, Tampa Bay Lightning fans would breathe a sigh of relief followed by resounding cheers all the way from Detroit to Channelside Drive.
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The biggest surprise of the night is it was the Tampa Bay Lightning’s power play unit who would lead the Lightning to victory tonight over the Red Wings. Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, who has massively stepped up his game this season, was responsible for two of the three power play goals of the night. Ondrej Palat scoring number three was the icing on the cake.
Another standout in tonight’s encounter was rookie Jonathan Drouin. If there was a play making its way towards the net, Drouin was right in the middle of it. The proof is in black and white. Drouin had an assist in each of the Lightning’s three goals tonight.
This was by no means a perfect game, but when all was said and done, the Tampa Bay Lightning found a way to bring home the win. At this point in the season, the only thing that matters is the score when the final buzzer sounds. Everything that happens in between buzzers is left out on the ice.
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The Tampa Bay Lightning will definitely have nice flight home tonight. After a day off tomorrow, the Lightning will charge back into the Amalie Arena on Thursday night to take on the Detroit Red Wings once again in Game 5 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. If the Bolts end up victorious, the Red Wings will head home and the Lightning will make their way to the next round. A lot is on the line in the next couple of days. Are you ready for the sheer excitement?