Red Wings Collapse Late, Lightning Rally to Tie Series

With six minutes remaining in regulation in Thursday’s Game Four between the Red Wings and the Lightning, Detroit seemed poised to take a 3-1 series lead. Instead, Tampa Bay scored two quick goals to force overtime and added the game-winner early in the extra period, tying the series at two games apiece.

Momentum shifted when Detroit forward Luke Glendening, who had been opposing Tyler Johnson’s line from Tampa Bay, left the game with a hand injury. With Glendening off, Johnson’s line scored all three goals.

Johnson got the Lightning on the board with 5:26 remaining, racing past Darren Helm down the left wing and driving to the net, lifting a shot over the shoulder of Detroit goalie Petr Mrazek.

Just 1:17 later it was 2-2 when Ondrej Palat was left alone to drive to the front of the net and take a pass from Johnson, knocking the puck past Mrazek on a give-and-go play.

Johnson won the game for Tampa Bay at 2:25 of the overtime period. On a three-on-one, Victor Hedman sent a crossing pass to Johnson all alone on the left wing for a low-angle shot into the net.

Gustav Nyquist had opened the game’s scoring for Detroit at 5:42 of the second period. Nyquist forced a turnover in the Lightning end that was picked up by Justin Abdelkader. Abdelkader passed it on to Henrik Zetterberg to the left of goalie Ben Bishop. With Bishop focusing on Zetterberg, Nyquist got to the back door and took a pass before banging the puck home.

A fluke goal with 5:36 left in the period made it 2-0 for Detroit. Joakim Andersson threw a heavy shot on Bishop from the high slot and Bishop knocked it into the air, then attempted to swat it away with his stick. Instead the puck went back towards the goal, off the post and just barely across the goal line.

Bishop finished the night with 22 saves on 24 shots while Mrazek stopped 26 of 29 chances.

Neither team had a power play goal in four tries with the man-advantage.

Game Five is scheduled for 6:00 PM on Saturday in Tampa.