Red Wings’ Down Lightning for Sixth Consecutive Win

The Detroit Red Wings won their sixth consecutive game Wednesday night, a 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lighting.

The game was the first in Detroit for the Steve Yzerman-led Lighting since Yzerman left the Red Wings organization to take over in Tampa Bay.

Pavel Datsyuk opened the game’s scoring at 4:58 of the first period. The Lightning failed to clear their zone off a faceoff win and the puck bounced from player to player, ending up near Todd Bertuzzi at the side of the crease. Bertuzzi poked it out to Datsyuk in the slot for a quick shot past goalie Dwayne Roloson.

Jonathan Ericsson’s first goal of the season made it 2-0 Detroit with 8:56 left in the period. Ericsson jumped into the play and took a pass from Valtteri Filppula, flinging a shot from the high slot past Roloson.

The Lighting would rally in the second period.

At 9:35 of the period, Martin St. Louis beat Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard from the slot with Tampa Bay on a power play.

With just 14 seconds left in the middle frame, Steven Stamkos was left unguarded at the bottom of the left faceoff circle and took a pass from Matt Gilroy, beating Howard to tie things up.

Tomas Holmstrom scored a power play goal from the side of the net to put Detroit back out in front at 4:22 of the third period and Darren Helm scored while cutting through the middle with 6:46 left in regulation to give the Red Wings the win.

Howard made 21 saves on 23 shots, including a stop on a shorthanded breakaway by Gilroy in the third period. Roloson stopped 31 of 35 Detroit shots.

Each team scored one power play goal. The Red Wings had five chances with the extra attacker while the Lightning had four.

The Wings are back in action on Friday when the visit the Buffalo Sabres, the first game of a three-game road trip.

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After the game, Detroit forward Patrick Eaves was placed on short-term injured reserve and Chris Conner was called up to fill his roster spot.