DETROIT — The Tampa Bay Lightning put an end to the Detroit Red Wings’ impressive seven-game winning streak with a decisive 6-3 victory on Saturday.
Brandon Hagel was a standout performer for Tampa Bay, contributing two goals along with two assists in the matchup.
Erik Cernak also played a significant role, scoring one goal and providing two assists, leading the Lightning to a record of 4-0-1 over their last five games.
Brayden Point reached a milestone with his 30th goal of the season, while Nikita Kucherov excelled with three assists.
Making his NHL debut, Dylan Duke added to the scoreline, marking a memorable start to his professional career.
The former University of Michigan player was called up from the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL just the day prior, making an immediate impact on the ice.
On the other side, Detroit’s Vladimir Tarasenko celebrated his 300th career goal during the first period.
Meanwhile, Alex DeBrincat contributed with one goal and two assists, and Patrick Kane also found the back of the net for the Red Wings.
Cam Talbot stepped into goal, making 11 saves after replacing Alex Lyon, who was removed after allowing two fast goals in the match’s opening minutes.
Observations from the Game:
For the Lightning, Brayden Point continues to thrive against Detroit, with 20 goals in just 37 career meetings, marking his second goal against the team this season.
The Red Wings, unfortunately, fell short in their quest to secure an eighth consecutive win, a feat they haven’t achieved since the 2007-08 season.
A pivotal moment occurred early in the third period when Duke scored off a rebound just 4:10 in, as Detroit attempted a comeback after narrowing the gap to 4-3 following a rough first period where they conceded four goals.
Additionally, Kucherov maintained his impressive scoring streak, accumulating at least one point in 17 out of his last 18 games.
His only outing without scoring during this stretch was against the Red Wings on January 25, when Tampa Bay faced a shutout loss of 2-0.
Looking ahead, the Lightning will next face off against Montreal on Sunday, while the Red Wings are set to host Minnesota on February 22.
