Game 7.
No two words in sports provide more goosebumps, sweaty palms and memorable moments, which makes Wednesday’s showdown between the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning appointment viewing for even the most casual NHL fan.
Here is a look at Wednesday’s playoff schedule and broadcast information, followed by a prediction for the decisive contest.
Wednesday NHL Playoff Schedule
Matchup: Detroit Red Wings at Tampa Bay Lightning, Game 7
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBC Sports Network
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra
Preview and Prediction
Tampa Bay center Steven Stamkos explained exactly what Game 7 means, via Mark Didtler of The Associated Press, via ESPN.com:
This is Game 7. We worked extremely hard to get ourselves in this position. No one remembers what happened in Game 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. We have to be a lot better than we have been. They've come in here and beat us twice. We have that mentality we were the best team at home in the league for a reason, and we have to show that.
He is right: Nobody will remember what happened in the first six contests. Advancement is the only thing that matters in the playoffs, and one team’s Stanley Cup dreams will be shattered Wednesday.
The key for Tampa Bay is setting the tone in the offensive zone in the early going. The Lightning were first in the league with 3.2 goals per game and need to rely on their strength in the most important game of their season.
Look for Tyler Johnson to lead the way again after he scored two more goals in a 5-2 victory in Game 6.
Johnson actually has six of Tampa Bay’s 15 goals in this series, which has made up for the lack of scoring from Stamkos. The Lightning used a balanced attack around Johnson in Game 6, with Jason Garrison, Alex Killorn and Cedric Paquette also finding the back of the net.
It was a refreshing performance for Tampa Bay fans,who have watched their team struggle against goalie Petr Mrazek and the Detroit defense for much of the series.
That defense will be significantly weaker for Wednesday’s game without Niklas Kronwall.
Kronwall was suspended after charging Tampa Bay forward Nikita Kucherov in Game 6. Although Kronwall did not receive a penalty for the blow, the NHL decided it was enough to warrant a suspension for the decisive game.
Craig Custance of ESPN The Magazine pointed out just how damaging the suspension is for the Detroit defense:
Another concern for the Red Wings is the fact that Stamkos has yet to score in this series even though he was second in the league with 43 goals in the regular season. He is overdue to find the back of the net, which makes him dangerous alongside the red-hot Johnson.
Stamkos was only looking ahead to Game 7, according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times:
If the Lightning come out on offense in Game 7 the same way they played in Game 6, Detroit must answer. The Red Wings were second in the league in power-play percentage and will look to create one-man advantages, but Tampa Bay was also seventh in the league in penalty-kill percentage.
If the Lightning negate Detroit’s power play, it will put even more pressure on the short-handed Red Wings defense.
Tampa Bay also holds the home-ice advantage, but that hasn’t exactly been a blessing thus far in this series. The Red Wings won two of the first three in Tampa Bay, while the Lightning took two of the three in Detroit.
Still, both teams would likely take the home-ice advantage if given the choice.
Between the critical suspension and the fact that Tampa Bay’s offense appeared to finally wake up in Game 6, the Red Wings have too much to overcome on the road. The home team will come through when it matters most Wednesday.
Prediction: Lightning 4, Red Wings 2; Lightning win series 4-3
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