Red Wings fall in Game 7

By @SKubus –

The Red Wings were tasked with winning their third road game of the series in Game 7 Wednesday night, but it was ultimately too tall of a task.

Tampa Bay defeated Detroit, 2-0, in the winner-take-all series finale to move on to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, ending the Red Wings’ season.

Braydon Coburn and Anton Stralman potted the goals for Tampa Bay. Detroit outshot Tampa Bay, 31-17, but Ben Bishop turned away all 31 in the victory for his first postseason shutout.

The Red Wings came out firing on all cylinders, holding a 6-0 shot advantage in the opening minutes and 10-2 more than halfway through the period. But despite continuous pressure in what was a solid road-game start, Detroit was unable to find twine in the first period, nor were the Lightning.

Both teams traded power plays in the middle frame, but nothing came of it. Detroit continued to pepper Bishop, holding a 23-12 shot advantage after 40 minutes.

Braydon Coburn found the game’s first goal four minutes into the third period, as a hard forecheck led to Coburn getting the puck at the right point. He one-timed a knuckler home high in the far corner past Mrazek for the 1-0 lead.

Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg nearly responded just minutes later, as he was the beneficiary of a 3-on-2 with Justin Abdelkader and Gustav Nyquist. But Zetterberg couldn’t get all of it and Bishop was up to the task.

An empty-netter from Stralman with 1:18 remaining sealed Detroit’s fate.