NHL Playoffs: Lightning vs. Red Wings Game 4 recap, full highlights

Highlights from the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round playoff series. 

Three Power Play goals helped the Tampa Bay Lightning go up 3-1 in their Eastern Conference first round playoff series against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night at Joe Louis Arena.

The Red Wings came out with superior physicality and outhit Tampa Bay 12-8 in the first period, but it would not translate to momentum like in Sunday’s Game 3. A Lightning power play led to another goal for Tampa Bay’s top line, as Nikita Kucherov tallied his fourth of the series at the 5:41 mark on great passing from Tyler Johnson and Jonathan Drouin.

After registering five shots in the first 15 minutes, the Red Wings finally put some pressure on Ben Bishop with two Power Plays late in the period. Bishop turned them away as the Red Wings fell to 1-19 on the Power Play in the series, and much of the puck possession and energy that Detroit found in Game 3 was not present on Tuesday.

The 1-0 score held midway through the second when Kucherov added his second of the game on a poor penalty kill from the Red Wings. Detroit could do absolutely nothing in the attacking zone at even strength in the first 30 minutes, and only goalie Petr Mrazek kept them within striking distance.

A particularly dysfunctional power play with seven minutes left in the second left the crowd at Joe Louis Arena feeling restless. However, the Red Wings somehow found a goal from Darren Helm to make things interesting at the 14:53 mark.

Suddenly, the Red Wings found some life, and Gustav Nyquist came out of the box to score with four seconds left in the second after taking an unfair penalty on a Bishop flop moments before to set up an intriguing third period.

Detroit’s energy continued at the start of the third, as it generated a few good scoring chances, including a pair of breakaway opportunities by Tomas Tata. Dylan Larkin had the best chance of the period with around seven minutes left, but his shot bounced off the crossbar despite causing the light to go off.

A controversial Jonathan Ericsson cross-check gave Tampa Bay another power play with five minutes to play. More sharp passing from Drouin set up Ondrej Palat for the game-winner at the 17:01 mark, the third power play goal of the game for the Lightning.

While Detroit’s defense was excellent in five-on-five situations, poor penalty killing and inability to convert on its own Power Plays put the Red Wings on the brink of elimination heading back to Tampa Bay.

Three stars

3. Ben Bishop, G, Tampa Bay Lightning. Didn’t have to do too much in the first half of the game but held off some late Detroit pressure with 26 saves overall. Allowed eight goals overall through four game.

2. Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning. Continued to provide the offense for the Lightning with two more goals to up his total to five in the series.

1. Jonathan Drouin, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning. Playing a solid series in return from controversial six-week suspension and set up all three Lightning goals with excellent Power Play passing.

Full highlights

"Kucherov with a power play one-timer.Again.#TBLvsDET #StanleyCuphttps://t.co/TqdTXHJ5wj— #StanleyCup Playoffs (@NHL) April 20, 2016"

Next game

The Lightning will try to close out the series on home ice on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. ET.

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