Red Wings-Lightning Game 6: 6 things to consider

Detroit can end series Monday night with win in Game 6

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings can close out their opening round series with the Tampa Bay Lightning with a win in Game 6 Monday night at Joe Louis Arena.

Game 6 is 7 p.m. Monday (TV: CNBC). 

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Here are six things to consider for Game 6:

For Red Wings: 

1. Scoring depth

Nine different Detroit players have scored at least one goal through five games -- 15 have at least a point and 13 have at least two. Nearly everyone is pitching in offensively, giving the Red Wings the edge in forward depth to this point.

2. Team defense

The Red Wings were slouching defensively in the month leading up to the playoffs. However, from a defensive standpoint things have gotten progressively better for this team with each postseason game. That's thanks in part to a solid commitment from the forward lines to play both ends of the ice, relentlessly.

3. Petr Mrazek

The 23-year-old rookie goalie is a big reason the Red Wings' overall team defense looks so good. He has stood tall for most of this series, earning two shutouts in his first five NHL playoff games. He was yanked after two periods in Game 2 when the Red Wings allowed 4 goals on 18 shots, but Mrazek seemed unfazed by the time Game 3 got underway in Detroit. He rebounded with 22 saves for the shutout. 

For Lightning:

1. Just scoring

Here's a team that led the league in goals during the regular season (3.16 goals per game) which now has been on the wrong side of two shutouts in the postseason. It isn't for lack of shots -- the Lightning have outshot the Red Wings in every game. They just need better chances and when they get them they have to convert. Tyler Johnson has 4 goals. He is doing his part. His teammates need to pitch in.

2. Power play

The Lightning are a dismal 8.3 percent on the man advantage through the first five games. They went 0/7 on the power play in Game 1 and 0/6 in Game 3. They also went 0/4 in Game 4 before their miraculous comeback in the final minutes.

Game 2 contained the Lightning's best showing on the power play -- 2/4. That was the difference in their 5-1 win. They'll need it to be the difference again if they want to stay alive.

3. Steven Stamkos

He hasn't scored. He hasn't been much of a threat at all. Now would be a good time -- the best time -- for Stamkos to get on the scoreboard. His team could be facing another first-round knockout. He could be the deciding factor on whether this goes to a 7th game.