Detroit Red Wings vs Tampa Bay Lightning: Red Wings Look to Slow Down Surging Lightning on the Road

• The Detroit Red Wings have lost three of their last four games.

• The Tampa Bay Lightning have won eight of their last ten games.

• The Lightning were 2-0-0 against the Red Wings last season.

Detroit Red Wings vs Tampa Bay Lightning Odds

Odds Taken from FanDuel Sportsbook.

Detroit Red Wings vs Tampa Bay Lightning Predictions and Picks

• Tampa Bay Lightning beat Detroit Red Wings 4-3 

• Detroit Red Wings cover

• Over 6.5 goals

Head-to-Head: Detroit Red Wings vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Detroit Red Wings vs Tampa Bay Lightning Predictions and Picks

The Detroit Red Wings will travel to warm Florida to face the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Red Wings have 29 points and are sitting in the second Wild Card spot, but a victory today could move them into the first Wild Card spot. On the other side, the hometown Lightning have 31 points and hold possession of the third spot in the Atlantic. A win would keep them in that spot, but Tampa could be relegated to a Wild Card spot with a loss.

The Red Wings have a handful of scorers but lack depth defensively; if they can shore up their defense, Detroit will become a contender.

Dylan Larkin, Dominik Kubalik, and Filip Hronek are the leaders on this Red Wings team. These players have at least 22 points and are great passers with scoring ability. When these players are on the ice together, Detroit is very dangerous.

Ville Husso has taken over the goaltender reigns in his first season in Detroit. The 27-year-old has made the most of his time and has a 10-4-3 record. It is worth noting that three of these wins have been shutouts.

The Lightning could very easily make another Stanley Cup run. Their offense is firing on all cylinders, and their defense plays well enough to hold up their offense.

Nikita Kucherov has been on a tear all season long. Kucherov leads the Lightning in points (36) and assists (25). He spends most of his time on the ice with Steven Stamkos. Stamkos leads the Lightning with 13 goals and is often set up by Kucherov.

Andrei Vasilevskiy continues to be the Lightning’s #1 goaltender. Vasilevskiy is not performing at a high level, but he is much better than his backup, Brian Elliot. The 28-year-old netminder only has a .909 save percentage, but that has been sufficient for the Lightning. However, it would benefit his team if he stepped up his play.

The Lightning are playing better hockey than the Red Wings and are especially strong at home. They will squeak out the victory 4-3.

Why Might the Detroit Red Wings Win?

The Red Wings are the underdogs but can win if they shoot 35 or more times and slow down Nikita Kucherov. 

The Red Wings average over three goals a game on only a little over 30 shots. Detroit is efficient and scoring on over 10% of their shots. However, they are facing a Lightning squad today that scores even more than them. Since that is the case, the Red Wings need to increase their shot output. Detroit needs to shoot at least 35 times today.

Detroit will have its hands full with Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov has been dominant this season, and his 36 points are the fourth-most in the league. The Red Wings’ defensemen must always be aware of Kucherov and not let him slip past them.

Why Might the Tampa Bay Lightning Win?

The Lightning will win if they draw penalties and get second-chance shots.

The Lightning have the fifth-best power-play unit in the NHL and convert on 28.57% of their opportunities. Tampa must draw penalties and score at least one powerplay goal. That goal will very likely be the difference maker.

Tampa will likely face Ville Husso in the net for the Red Wings. Husso is a competitor and often tough to score on. In order to combat Husso’s potential dominance, the Lightning must crash the net and look for rebounds.

Red Wings Key Players: (D) Moritz Seider  

Moritz Seider’s stats are nothing special. Seider is a starting defenseman and plays well over 22 minutes a game, but his two goals and nine assists do not stand out. However, Seider has one stat that stands out for all wrong reasons. The 2019 First Round Draft pick has the worst +/- on the Red Wings at -13. His play lately has been especially troubling, as he has a +/- of -7 over the last five games.

Seider needs to forget about the first 24 games of the season and start anew this game. Even though he has made some questionable decisions on the ice so far, Seider is a solid defenseman and can provide a lot of value on the ice. If he adjusts, he might provide Detroit with a new look that can help them make a run.

Lightning Key Player: (LW) Nicholas Paul

Nicholas Paul’s stats do not jump off the page. He is not a top player on this Lightning squad, but he excels on their second line. The winger plays over 17 minutes a game and has 11 goals and seven assists in 24 games. While those numbers are impressive, his +/- stands out the most. Paul has a +/- of 15 (tenth-highest in the NHL). The 26-year-old’s +/- is the highest on the Lightning, and the next highest is nine. It is safe to say that Paul’s presence on the ice is influential and necessary for Tampa.

I do not have any advice for Paul. All he must do is keep playing his game and making the right decisions.

How to Watch Detroit Red Wings vs Tampa Bay Lightning

• What - Detroit Red Wings vs Tampa Bay Lightning

• Where - Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida

• When - Tuesday, December 6, 7:00 PM EST

• How to Watch - NHLPP, ESPN+