in the pregame report I talked about looking at both sides of the game. A game where Florida had run into Talbot on fire and the power play for Detroit was just unreal though the Wings were outshot 43-20. Tonight’s game in Tampa looked like more than just a flip of the script. Tampa was up 5-1 after 2 on just 15 shots and had gone 2 for 2 on the power play with Detroit going 1 for 4. Enter the third.
Detroit ends up outshooting Tampa Bay 40-22 but still can’t get another goal and up going 1 for 6 on the power play. Tampa ends up 2 for 3. The numbers are almost the polar opposite, and so is the result. Detroit went from winning 5-2 vs FLA to losing 5-1 to TBL. There was a difference in the flow, Tampa in the 2nd looked like a top tier team playing vs an AHL team at times. Vasilevsky saw everything (minus Raymond’s tally) but Kucherov’s goal was just a slice and dice right through the whole team. Guentzel was behind Chiarot in the crease on the power play for an easy Corey Perry style turn and shoot.
Tonight was a tough watch, and a weird “trading places” scenario. Tampa just looked like a team that had no worries for long stretches even when they were being outshot. Credit to coach McLellan for the time out and for trying to hit the reset but the Lightning just had all the talent of a team that looks like they want another Stanley Cup. Talbot was off and didn’t get the help he needed and everything that gave Detroit a win 2 days ago seemed to disappear.
Now the team needs to fly to Dallas and try to find some redemption against another team that is not going to be easy. There will be a pregame with a video interview that I hope you all enjoy tomorrow. For now, Detroit came out ready to work but Tampa just had an untouchable level of talent in net and in the scoring contingent. They’re number 1 in the league in goals per game for a reason.
So what’s the takeaway? Bring the same work ethic, outshoot, outchance but realize that those talent gaps are still very real and the schedule is going to be very tough on that situation. Yzerman took too long to bring in a new coach, for sure. Even so, when things aren’t clicking it tends to re-emphasize some bad signings. Hoping Lyon is feeling ready to steal one in a quick turn around.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Normally a split on a Florida trip feels like a net gain. Unfortunately this was has some sting on it.
If you missed the pregame video, you can see it via this embed. New video tomorrow!
1st Period goals:
At 2:02 lightning strike first. 1-0 TBL
Shots: 13-6 DET
Score: 1-0 TBL
2nd Period goals:
Just 16 seconds into the second, Kasper takes a penalty and TBL doubles the lead. Chiarot didn’t have Guentzel covered at net front, looking like the opposite of FLA game as Detroit is outshooting TBL 15 to 7. 2-0 TBL
At 1:50 TBl scores again, just shaming Wings D and Talbot. 3-0 TBL
At 3:58 TBL scores again. 4-0 TBL. Wings are done. McLellan calling time out but this game doesn’t seem salvageable. At least he’s doing something. We used to just sit and watch it go down.
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
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