Lightning strike out Detroit's sixth loss

 Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates his goal with teammates against the Detroit Red Wings during the third period at Amalie Arena on October 26, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Tampa Bay Lightning kept their winning streak alive with successful power Thursday night. Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos made their heavy marks with Andrei Vasilevksiy making big saves to win 3-2 against the Detroit Red Wings at Amalie Arena. The Lightning improved to 9-1-1 and captured their fifth straight win with tremendous surge of pucks to Detroit.

Detroit tries everything in their power to avoid a sixth consecutive loss and might have some help accomplishing that. With his signing finally official, Andreas Athanasiou got the green light Thursday to join his team who he’s spent two seasons with. The 23-year-old known for not only his youth, but his tenacious spirit on the offensive side of the puck, was just what the Red Wings looked for. Their losing streak began with the Tampa Bay Lightning and hope to finish it despite their own streak as well. Tampa has won their last four straight with Stamkos and Kucherov on fire with consecutive game points streaks. Their home advantage would be a great task for Detroit to overcome.

Tampa started with three shots to get ahead of the Red Wings with Howard already feeling the heat. They gave the Lightning their first power play two minutes in but Detroit’s PK avoided going down early on. By the end of the penalty, they got up to speed with pucks to the net where Vasilevksiy was. Detroit’s first power play helped them reach full speed but had yet to find their mark.

By the 14^th minute, Detroit gave up another power play to Tampa but countered at the right moment while down a man. A turnover deep into the Red Wings zone by Frans Nielsen turned into a breakaway for the center man who went in on Vasilevksiy scoring a rifled shot high on the net for his third. Just when Detroit had the lead, the Lightning struck back less than two minutes later. Nikita Kucherov scored during Tampa’s third power play chance giving him his 12^th of the season. The last three minutes of the period saw Tampa back on their surge of power against the Red Wings ending the period with a 14-9 lead on shots on net.

Detroit got a jump on the puck to start the second accumulating four shots on Vasilevksiy but no goal to take over the lead. They had a power play minutes later but the Lightning’s PK unit showed good coverage to leave Detroit emptyhanded. Howard made some key saves on Tampa’s fourth man advantage knowing that he and his team had to minimize every scoring chance the Lightning connected on.

They faced another one in the final five minutes where he had good support completing the penalty kill. Tampa increased their shots which Detroit saw as a need to follow suit. They took their ninth with Athanasiou wristing one only to be robbed by Vasilevksiy with the quick glove. It was the last one they got on net while Tampa picked up two more but remained deadlocked in a tie after 40 minutes.

Detroit had two shots to start the third but as soon as they lost control of the puck, Tampa surged in order to make a run at the lead. It took them time but at 6:22, Kucherov went in, faked the shot and passed to Stamkos scoring his fourth. It once again increased the offense of the Lightning who continued to hunt for their assurance to get a second win over the Red Wings this season.

They got it 2:56 left on a rush that started at the boards with Yanni Gourde taking it in front of the net where Brayden Point was there to get a shot that beat Howard by a mile scoring his fifth. In anger, Howard snapped his stick as it clearly frustrated him. They went for a 6 on 4 when Tampa took a penalty and somehow scored one with a fight in front of the Tampa net where Nielsen scored his second of the night sitting a goal down from tying it. They had time on the clock to do it again with another power play in their favor keeping it 6 on 4.

Detroit didn’t get themselves in a position to shoot the puck through traffic and looked for their best chance. It allowed Tampa to attack for possession which they nearly had on Alex Killorn’s relentless fight for the puck. He took a lot of time from the Red Wings who were desperate but in the end finding another loss to their names. Vasilevksiy gained his second victory over the Red Wings stopping 28 on the night for a .935 save percentage for his ninth win.

While Howard accepted his third consecutive defeat, the loss weighed heavier on his support staff that let Tampa shot 38 times. With no brakes to stop the slide down in the Atlantic Division, the Florida Panthers would get their shot to take advantage of the Red Wings unstoppable troubles on Saturday.