Red Wings Aim to Sweep Lightning in Crucial Atlantic Division Clash

TAMPA, Fla. — The Detroit Red Wings, riding a wave of momentum with eight wins in their last nine games, will face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night at Amalie Arena. The matchup marks the first of four regular-season meetings between the Atlantic Division rivals.

Detroit (21-19-4) enters the game fresh off a statement victory against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Thursday. Goaltender Cam Talbot delivered key saves, while the team’s top players stepped up to secure the win. The Red Wings are now seventh in the Atlantic Division, just three points behind the Boston Bruins for the final Wild Card spot.

The Lightning (24-16-3), despite losing longtime captain Steven Stamkos, remain in contention thanks to standout performances from Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Tampa Bay has won four of its last six games and sits third in the Atlantic, seven points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Historically, the Red Wings have dominated recent matchups, winning three of four games last season. Kucherov, the Lightning’s all-time leading scorer against Detroit, has tallied 20 goals and 26 assists in 36 games. Vasilevskiy, meanwhile, boasts a 14-4-0 record against Detroit with a .928 save percentage.

Saturday’s game will air on the FanDuel Sports Network at 7 p.m. ET. The Lightning will look to rebound after a tough 2023-24 series against Detroit, while the Red Wings aim to solidify their playoff push.