Tampa Bay Lightning Take Game One in First Round of Stanley Cup Playoffs

Even without leading goal scorer Steven Stamkos, the Lightning showed they still had plenty of offensive power Wednesday night. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 on Wednesday to take a 1-0 series lead over the Red Wings in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Tampa Bay right wing forward Nikita Kucherov scored the first goal of the game in the first period to give the Lightning a 1-0 lead.

First goal of the #StanleyCup Playoffs feels good. #TBLvsDET pic.twitter.com/WJTx53k0Cs

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) April 13, 2016

Detroit would tie the game two minutes into the second period off a slapshot from Red Wings defenseman Mike Green. The Red Wings would take a 2-1 lead less than two minutes later after forward Justin Abdelkader tipped in the puck.

The Lightning would tie it back up later in the second period after Kucherov scored his second goal of the game. A goal from Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman in the third period that would have given the Lightning the lead was called off after it was determined that the Lightning had been offsides before the goal was scored. But, that did not matter as center Alex Killorn would score the game winner for the Lightning less than two minutes later. Following the game, Killorn said he was happy with the way the Lightning played.

The hand-eye coordination is killer. #TBLvsDET https://t.co/byVLk2myYI

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) April 14, 2016

Despite the loss, the Red Wings outshot the Lightning 36 to 34. Goaltender Ben Bishop finished with 34 saves for the Lightning.

Game Two of the series will be played on Friday at the Amalie Arena.