{"id":551823,"date":"2026-04-13T15:40:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T15:40:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/551823\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T15:40:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T15:40:22","slug":"the-lightning-come-home-to-face-the-red-wings-in-critical-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/551823\/","title":{"rendered":"The Lightning Come Home to Face the Red Wings in Critical Game"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Tampa Bay Lightning got a crucial win on the last game of their road trip against the Boston Bruins. The win keeps the Lightning in contention for first in the Atlantic –although they no longer control their own destiny– and just need to win their last two games at home to lock up the Atlantic’s 2 seed and getting home ice.<\/p>\n

So next for the Lightning is a two game homestand, beginning with a matchup against the Detroit Red Wings. The Lightning have a 2-1 series lead on the Red Wings this season with their lone loss coming in Detroit in a 2-1 overtime thriller.<\/p>\n

More than anything regarding seeding, results, and wins and losses. The Lightning need to get healthy, and find their identity, something they didn’t have in their losses to Buffalo and Ottawa on the road.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s #GoBolts<\/a> looks at morning skate:<\/p>\n

Goncalves-Cirelli-Kucherov
Guentzel-Point-Perry
Girgensons-Paul-Gourde
Sabourin-Geekie-Bjorkstrand
James<\/p>\n

Moser-Carlile
D\u2019Astous-Lilleberg
McDonagh-Cernak
Santini-Raddysh
Crozier<\/p>\n

Vasilevskiy
Johansson
Konin pic.twitter.com\/sfx3xO7TKG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Benjamin Pierce (@BenjaminJReport) April 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

John Cooper on their playoff positioning following Saturday’s victory”<\/p>\n

“We understand where we’re slotted in here and probably need some help, but we do have a chance to get home ice,” Cooper said<\/a>. “So there’s still something to play for.”<\/p>\n

Andrei Vasilevskiy- Andrei Vasilevskiy started all three contests for the Lightning, going 2-0-1 with a .935 save percentage and 1.96 goals against average<\/p>\n

John Gibson- Gibson is 77\/86 against the Lightning in goal this season and is third in the NHL with four shutouts.<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay Lightning:<\/p>\n

Detroit Red Wings:<\/p>\n

A full morning skate for the #GoBolts<\/a> today \ud83c\udfd2<\/p>\n

Dominic James, Darren Raddysh & Zemgus Girgensons are back out there. <\/p>\n

Brandon Hagel is not on the ice.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Diandra Loux (@Diandra_loux) April 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The Red Wings are officially eliminated from playoff contention for the 10th straight season, a streak that doesn’t matchup with the team’s illustrious history, but it could give the Bolts a slight advantage as many of the Red Wings players seemed checked out after their last loss where they were booed off of their home ice. <\/p>\n

Tampa is getting closer to full strength and should have a playoff atmosphere at home while their super star Nikita Kucherov continues to strengthen his MVP case, something that his teammates can help with two more Lightning victories.<\/p>\n

At home against Detroit is one the Lightning can’t drop, especially as they get healthy, but they can’t take Detroit lightly. A healthy Red Wings team is still a dangerous one despite not being a playoff squad, and the Lightning need their offense to step back up on their home ice.<\/p>\n