Atlantic Division Playoffs: 2) Tampa Bay Lightning VS. 3) Detroit Red Wings

As usual, this post covers the entire series in the first round of this year's NHL playoffs.

Game 1: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida. In goal: Jimmy Howard for Detroit and Ben Bishop for Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay led off in the first period with a Nikita Kucherov goal, assisted by Tyler Johnson and Alex Killorn. Detroit tied it in the second period with a Mike Green goal, via Danny DeKeyser and Tomas Tatar. The Red Wings took the lead with a Justin Abdelkader goal, coming off of Kyle Quincey. The Lightning retied it on a Kucherov goal, helped along by Braydon Coburn and Nikita Nesterov. Tampa Bay gained the lead in the third period on a Killorn goal, made possible by Johnson and Kucherov. This stood for a 3-2 win, with the three stars going to Kucherov, Killorn, and Johnson. The Lightning lead the series 1-0.

Game 2: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida. In goal: Jimmy Howard for Detroit and Ben Bishop for Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay started in the first period with a Nikita Kucherov power play goal, his third of the postseason, powered by Victor Hedman and Tyler Johnson. Detroit tied it on a second period goal by Dylan Larkin, via Jonathan Ericsson and Niklas Kronwall. The Lightning took the lead back with a Brian Boyle goal, guided in by Jonathan Drouin and Braydon Coburn. The Red Wings tied it in the third period with a Brad Richards goal, made possible by Mike Green and Tomas Tatar on the power play. Tampa Bay regained the lead with a Johnson goal, courtesy of Alex Killorn. The Lightning added on with a Johnson goal, helped along by Kucherov and Jason Garrison for his second of the game. Tampa Bay iced it at 5-2 with a Killorn empty net goal, his second of the playoffs, set up by Matthew Carle and Johnson. The three stars were awarded to Johnson, Kucherov, and Killorn. The Lightning leave home with a 2-0 series lead in their suitcases.

Game 3: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan. In goal: Ben Bishop for Tampa Bay and Petr Mrazek for Detroit. Detroit got going in the second period with an Andreas Athanasiou goal, assisted by Tomas Tatar and Joakim Andersson. The Red Wings added on with a Henrik Zetterberg goal, going in unassisted. This stood for a 2-0 win, with the three stars being Mrazek (16 save shutout), Athanasiou, and Zetterberg. The series still favors the Lightning 2-1.

Game 4: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan. In goal: Ben Bishop for Tampa Bay and Petr Mrazek for Detroit. Tampa Bay began in the first period with a Nikita Kucherov power play goal, his fourth of the postseason, powered by Tyler Johnson and Jonathan Drouin. The Lightning added on in the second period with a Kucherov power play goal, his second of the game and fifth of the playoffs, with assists provided by Drouin and Jason Garrison. Detroit got on the board with a Darren Helm goal, via Luke Glendening and Brendan Smith. The Red Wings tied it with a Gustav Nyquist goal, with a lone helper by Riley Sheahan. Tampa Bay took the lead in the third period with an Ondrej Palat power play goal, coming off of Drouin, who got a sock trick, and Kucherov. The three stars belonged to Kucherov, Drouin, and Palat in the 3-2 game. The Lightning lead the series 3-1, and they'll have a chance to advance at home. 

Game 5: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida. In goal: Petr Mrazek for Detroit and Ben Bishop for Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay dented the scoreboard in the third period with an Alex Killorn goal, his third of the postseason, coming off of Ryan Callahan. This stood for a 1-0 win, with the three stars being Killorn, Bishop (34 save shutout), and Mrazek (23 for 24 in saves). The Lightning take the series 4-1, and they await either the Panthers or the Islanders.