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Trio of early goals help Lightning hand Red Wings 7th straight loss

Red Wings Lightning Hockey
Posted at 10:15 PM, Feb 03, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-03 22:15:05-05

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Alex Killorn had a goal and an assist, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Detroit Red Wings 5-1 on Wednesday for their third consecutive win.

Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh, Anthony Cirelli and Brayden Point also scored for Tampa Bay, which remained unbeaten in five home games this season. Blake Coleman had two assists to reach 100 career points, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 16 stops.

The Lightning stretched their home win streak against the Red Wings to 15 dating to Dec. 12, 2013.

Anthony Mantha scored for Detroit, which dropped their seventh straight game, including two overtime losses. Thomas Greiss was pulled after allowing three goals on six shots, and Calvin Pickard made 18 saves.

Tampa Bay grabbed control with three goals in the opening five minutes. The Lightning also scored three times in the first period of Monday night’s 5-2 victory over Nashville.

Hedman sparked Tampa Bay’s fast start against Detroit. The 6-foot-6 defenseman took a Tyler Johnson pass off the wall, skated in and cut to the slot before sending a wrist shot over the right shoulder of Greiss.

Cirelli made it 2-0 at 3:57, converting a rebound from the right circle with a quick snap shot while skating 4-on-4. McDonagh scored his first of the season at 4:54, making it 3-0 before Detroit registered a shot on goal.

Point scored his fourth of the season 7:25 into the second period, quickly lifting a rebound from in close off a Steven Stamkos shot.

Mantha scored on a breakaway at 9:49 before Killorn deflected a Mikhail Sergachev shot to make it 5-1 at 11:32.

MILESTONE

Detroit captain Dylan Larkin appeared in his 400th game, all with the Red Wings.

BACK IN THE LINEUP

Detroit welcomed back defenseman Jon Merrill and forwards Sam Gagner and Adam Erne after each player spent time on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list.

UP NEXT

The teams play again on Friday.