The Tampa Bay Lighting defeated the Ottawa Senators 5-1 on Thursday night, so they sit 1 point ahead of the Detroit Red Wings in the Atlantic Division standings:
The Associated Press posted a preview of Saturday’s game between the Wings and Bolts (1 PM EST start on ABC/Sportsnet/97.1 FM):
BOTTOM LINE: The Detroit Red Wings host the Tampa Bay Lightning after the Red Wings knocked off the Seattle Kraken 5-4 in a shootout.
Detroit has gone 28-21-5 overall with a 7-8-1 record in Atlantic Division games. The Red Wings have given up 165 goals while scoring 154 for a -11 scoring differential.
Tampa Bay is 5-9-0 against the Atlantic Division and 29-20-4 overall. The Lightning rank third in NHL play with 185 total goals (averaging 3.5 per game).
Saturday’s game is the third time these teams meet this season. The Red Wings won 2-0 in the previous matchup.
TOP PERFORMERS: Lucas Raymond has scored 21 goals with 37 assists for the Red Wings. Dylan Larkin has three goals and six assists over the last 10 games.
Brandon Hagel has 24 goals and 32 assists for the Lightning. Jake Guentzel has five goals and four assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Red Wings: 7-2-1, averaging 2.6 goals, 4.4 assists, 2.1 penalties and 4.2 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game.
Lightning: 5-4-1, averaging 2.9 goals, five assists, 3.2 penalties and seven penalty minutes while giving up 2.2 goals per game.
