TAMPA, FL – A solid overall performance on the road wasn’t enough for Detroit Red Wings, even as they faced an opponent going through its own struggles.
The 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning featured two goals in the final four minutes at Benchmark International Arena on Thursday, March 12, leaving the Wings 1-2-0 on a trip with one more stop to go.
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Mar 12, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Corey Perry (10) looks to Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson (36) in the first period at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
It’s the first time the Wings (36-23-7) have lost consecutive games in regulation since Thanksgiving. With the Columbus Blue Jackets earning a point, the Wings’ lead inside the playoff picture is down to two points. Meanwhile, the Wings are three points back of the Montreal Canadiens for third in the Atlantic Division and seven points shy of the division-leading Buffalo Sabres.
Next up for the Wings
The Red Wings will wrap up their trip with a visit to the Lone Star State and the Dallas Stars on Saturday (8 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit). The Stars are second in the Central Division with 90 points – but also second in the entire NHL, trailing only the 95-point Colorado Avalanche.
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Detroit Red Wings face Tampa Bay Lightning without Dylan Larkin
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot (8) warms up before a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
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Detroit Red Wings face Tampa Bay Lightning without Dylan Larkin
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot (8) warms up before a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
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Detroit Red Wings face Tampa Bay Lightning without Dylan Larkin
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh (43) controls the puck against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
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Detroit Red Wings face Tampa Bay Lightning without Dylan Larkin
Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) controls the puck from Detroit Red Wings defenseman Albert Johansson (20) in the first period at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
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Detroit Red Wings face Tampa Bay Lightning without Dylan Larkin
Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) and Detroit Red Wings left wing J.T. Compher (37) face off in the first period at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
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Detroit Red Wings face Tampa Bay Lightning without Dylan Larkin
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (22) controls the puck from Detroit Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot (8) in the first period at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
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Detroit Red Wings face Tampa Bay Lightning without Dylan Larkin
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Corey Perry (10) looks to Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson (36) in the first period at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
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Detroit Red Wings face Tampa Bay Lightning without Dylan Larkin
Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) controls the puck against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Third-period slump
The Wings were down by a goal after two periods despite outplaying the Lighting in the second period. The challenge grew 95 seconds into the third period when Brayden Point fired a shot that deflected off Ben Chiarot and Gage Goncalves past goalie John Gibson (25 saves). The Wings finally solved Tampa Bay’s netminder, Andrei Vasilevskiy, at 7:05, when Alex DeBrincat fired a shot that went in off J.T. Compher. Compher played with DeBrincat and Patrick Kane as the Wings tried to mask being without Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp, both dealing with leg injuries.
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Point and Goncalves paired up for another goal with four minutes to play, again with Goncalves deflecting Point’s shot. Coach Todd McLellan went all in on a gamble and pulled Gibson after that, but that led to Jake Guentzel scoring into an empty net for his second goal of the game.
Lightning fails to strike early
The Wings faced a Lightning team that had lost six of its previous seven games, but that didn’t show in the first period. The Wings were on their heels, forced to defend and block shots (Michael Rasmussen looked in pain after getting hit by a puck fired by Darren Raddysh) and trying to ease some of the pressure on Gibson. Shots after the first period favored the Lightning, 8-5, but the Bolts also had 11 attempts blocked and seven missed shots.
A penalty to Marco Kasper spilled into the second period, and the Bolts took advantage. With too many Wings skaters distraced by Nikita Kucherov carrying the puck, Kucherov sent a soft little pass to a wide open Guentzel, whose shot from the slot made it 1-0 less than a minute in.
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But from there on in, the Wings took over, responding with several strong shifts and generating multiple good scoring opportunities against Vasilevskiy. Patrick Kane was open at one point and directed a good shot on net, but Vasilevskiy didn’t budge, stopping all 13 shots he faced in the second period.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings zapped in 3rd period by Tampa Bay Lightning