Tampa Bay takes Game 1 with 3-2 win over Red Wings

By @StefanKubus – 

Last year’s Game 1 between Tampa Bay and Detroit ended with a 3-2 final.

But this time, the home team came away with the win, as the Lightning topped the Wings in Game 1 Wednesday night.  Nikita Kucherov had a pair of goals, Alex Killorn scored the game-winning marker and Ben Bishop turned aside 34 of 36 shots. Mike Green and Justin Abdelkader struck for Detroit, while Jimmy Howard stopped 31 of 34.

Kucherov opened the scoring in the first frame, receiving a Tyler Johnson pass and one-timing a laser off the back bar and out to give the Bolts a 1-0 advantage.

The Red Wings responded in the second period, as a pair of goals from Mike Green and Justin Abdelkader less than two minutes apart gave Detroit a 2-1 lead.

First, Green’s blast from just inside the right point launched off the stick of J.T. Brown and past Bishop. The second Wings goal was nearly identical, as Kyle Quincey unleashed a shot from nearly the same spot, putting the puck on goal and Abdelkader tipped it home.

But Kucherov’s second of the game just before the game’s halfway point evened things up for Tampa Bay heading into the third period.

And at 8:52 of the third period, a virtually-untouched Killorn in the slot tipped home a pass from Johnson to put the Lightning ahead, 3-2.

Despite a late push by Detroit, Bishop and the Bolts stood tall, as Tampa Bay took Game 1 in the series.

Game 2 is set for Friday night, once again at Amalie Arena.