|
 Center Henrik Zetterberg had a goal and an assist to lead the Red
Wings to a 3-1 win against the Lightning at Joe Louis Arena.
The Red Wings lost to Tamps in a first round playoff series in seven
games last season.
"They're a great team. It's very simple why they played in the
Stanley Cup Finals last year," said Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard,
who made 20 saves. "They're one of the best teams in the East, we
think we're very comparable. I thought we showed that tonight."
Winger Gustav Nyquist and defenseman Kyle Quincey also scored for
Detroit (3-0-0)
"Obviously we have a little history here from playoffs last year so
not as intense that it was in April but I think it was a well-played
game," Zetterberg said. "Two good goalies going at it. Howie was
good again today. Bishop played well. Obviously we got one on the
power play, our PK was good. Overall it was a good game."
Right winger Ryan Callahan scored for Tampa Bay and goalie Ben
Bishop stopped 21 shots.
"A chess match. Bouncy ice. Close checking game," Lightning center
Brian Boyle said. "... They play the same. It's a grind every shift.
They play four lines for 60 (minutes) and compete."
Nyquist opened the scoring with a power-play goal with 2:10 left in
the second period. He beat Bishop with a wrist shot from the right
face-off dot. It was Nyquist's first goal of the season.
"Big power-play goal. Good shot by (Nyquist), great net front
presence by (left winger Justin Abdelkader, who was in front of
Bishop and was originally credited with the goal)," Red Wings coach
Jeff Blashill said. "And then I thought our PK was real good in
critical moments. Specialty teams can be a little misleading
depending on the time of the game. I thought in tonight's game the
timing was great."
Zetterberg made it 2-0 8:25 into the second period with his second
goal. He scored on a shot from the high slot.
Abdelkader also screened Bishop on that goal.
"They picked the corners, we didn't ... Big time shots," Tampa Bay
coach Jon Cooper said. "That's what you've got to do against good
goalies."
Zetterberg has seven points (two goals and five assists) in three
games.
Callahan put the Lightning on the board with 8:57 left. He beat
Howard with a one-time slap shot from the top of the right circle.
It was Callahan's second goal and the first that Howard had given up
this season.
[to top of second column] |
"Hard-fought battle. I think their goalie played pretty well," Boyle
said.
Said Cooper: "It was a deja vu playoff game all over again."
Quincey scored into an empty net with less than two minutes left to
seal it.
Red Wings defenseman Mike Green made an outstanding defensive play
by diving and knocking the puck away from Lightning right winger
J.T. Brown at the center red line to prevent a breakaway with a
little less than three minutes remaining in the second.
Howard stopped center Vladislav Namestnikov from the right circle on
a 2-on-1 rush a little past the halfway mark of the second period.
Lightning center Steven Stamkos hit the goal post from the high slot
area with 3:29 left in the middle period.
Howard stopped Tampa Bay right winger Erik Condra from the right
circle off the rush with 6:09 left in the first period.
Bishop made a nice save on Nyquist from the slot with 3:48 remaining
in the opening period.
NOTES: Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill and Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper
have known each other for 15 years and are good friends. They
coached against each other in the junior United States Hockey League
and the American Hockey League. ... Lightning general manager Steve
Yzerman spent his entire Hall of Fame playing career with Detroit.
... The Red Wings were without C Pavel Datsyuk (recovering from
ankle surgery), D Dan DeKeyser (foot) and F Darren Helm (shoulder,
concussion). Detroit RW Johan Franzen was a late scratch. He was
replaced in the lineup by C Landon Ferraro. ... Tampa Bay was
without F Craig Paquette (foot).
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
