Sunday, 4 a.m.
The Tampa Bay Lightning got their first taste of how difficult the NHL’s Atlantic Division will be this season.
The Bolts, who finished third a year ago, lost their first division game Saturday night, falling 6-4 to the Detroit Red Wings. The Wings, seventh in the division last year, showed their improvement throughout the game, scoring two goals in each period to win. Detroit scored three of the game’s final four goals.
Tampa Bay has had the better of Detroit in recent years, winning 24 of 28 meetings.
"When you have your game in order, there are certain habits you have to have and certain things you have to do that give you a chance to win a game," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "You never see us do in a playoff game what we did tonight. When you give an opponent everything we gave them, it’s nearly impossible to win a hockey game. The amount of turnovers and odd-man rushes and all those things we gave up...the amount of turnovers were shocking."
Alex DeBrincat scored twice for the Wings, who trailed 2-1 early but then built a 5-3 lead.
Steven Stamkos scored twice (and had one disallowed). Victor Hedman had a goal and two assists, and Brandon Hagel had a goal.
Goaltender Jonas Johansson had 37 saves, but the Wings had 42 shots.
Tampa Bay plays at Ottawa tonight at 7 p.m.