It seems like Marco Kasper just keeps pushing to get better. After Detroit held a brief 2-1 lead as both teams scored on bizarre broken plays, it seemed like Tampa’s 3rd goal in the final regulation frame was going to be it. With line juggling all night long, it was back to the trio of Kane, Debrincat and Kasper where the tying goal was found as Kane picked up a turnover in the neutral zone, found Debrincat who skated down the right side and made the pass to Kasper cross ice and in.
In overtime, it seemed like Detroit wasn’t going to get a stick on the puck, then, Kasper skates out of the O zone on the right side, into the neutral zone to grab a turn over, skates back in on the left side down to the net and scores the game winner. Almost a perfect horseshoe if you mapped it out, no hesitation and a glimpse at a centerman that could be a big part of the future for the club.
Kane and Debrincat both made strong plays defensively as Debrincat has really added to his game on the other side of the puck. The trio are all able to steal the puck, win battles in the corner and find a way to make plays happen almost out of nothing. It’s a shame that the season started the way that it did, but those three have been a highlight when they’re together. McLellan did the team a big favor by giving Kasper top line minutes on the wing and then moving him to center. Kasper has stepped up and tonight stepped up big.
The win may not move the post season needle, but it may have solidified some other things. Kasper is an example of what the team needs more of. Rookies (Lombardi, Mazur, Sandin Pellikka, Tuomisto, Wallinder etc) that come up and take jobs and make the group better. It was a recent interview that Bob Kaser out of Grand Rapids did that has more and more people wondering if Axel may make the jump directly to Detroit. Regardless, it’s good to see the young faces pushing. Johansson had a strong night on several defensive plays as well. Seider battled hard, Edvinsson had a few moments where he skated the puck well when you’d expect a pass. There’s plenty of room to grow, as evidenced by mis-communication on the first TB goal as Seider and Edvinsson didn’t sort out the ice, but that’s the bite of the bingo balls against a very good home team in Tampa.
As always, let me know your thoughts on the game and what you hope to see heading into next year. There was brief mention about Tampa’s first round pick and Hobey Baker winner Isaac Howard opting to remain at MSU. Some rumblings have had it that the player wanted to burn off an ELC year and was not happy that the team couldn’t accommodate the request due to cap issues. With Tampa not having a first round pick for the next 3 seasons, this may be a player teams are willing to part with that for. Should Detroit ask for permission to speak to MSU’s top scorer? Let me know.
1st Period goals:
Just 1 minute in TB opens scoring. 1-0 TBL
*some mention of Isaac Howard’s decision to stay at MSU.
Shots: 9-9
Score: 1-0 TBL
2nd Period goals:
At 4:07, Kane tied it up for Detroit in a quick play that saw Smith at the half wall get the puck to Kasper at the side of the net who skated to the crease and connected with an incoming Kane. The replay looks like TB broke up the pass but Kane still got to the puck and knocked it in. Not sure how assists will come out. 1-1.
At 16:37 Detroit gets the lead from former Lightning player Tyler Motte as Holl shot the puck wide of the net, a strange bounce saw the puck settle right in front of Vasilevsky and Motte poked it 5 hole in a strange but welcome broken play. 2-1 DET
At 17:52 Lightning tie it up in an equally bizarre goal. 2-2
Shots: 17-14 TBL
Score: 2-2
3rd Period goals:
At 1:38, after Seider’s helmet was ripped off and he had to leave the ice, Detroit leaves the neutral zone wide open on a bad change, TB regains the lead. 3-2. Should be a call on the helmet removal, but Detroit did nothing to cover the neutral zone.
At 12:59, Kane took advantage of a Lightning turnover in the neutral zone, sent the puck to Debrincat who skated into the O zone on the right side, sent the puck cross ice to Kasper who cashed in his 17th of the year, tying the score 3-3
Marco Kasper rifles home a perfect shot off the pass from DeBrincat, evening the score up at 3!#LGRWpic.twitter.com/f9zlNbipXg
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 12, 2025
Shots: 24-21 DET
Score: 3-3
OT:
Kasper scores again! Very near the same spot after picking up the puck in the neutral zone, the rookie skated into the O zone down the left side and snaps in his 18th and the game winner. 4-3 DET
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