DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings grabbed a 2-1 series lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning after shutting them out, 3-0, Tuesday night in Detroit.
Rookie goalie Petr Mrazek made 22 saves to earn his first career playoff shutout.
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Game 4 is 7 p.m. Thursday in Detroit (TV: NBCSN).
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The Red Wings brought their most physical game of the series, out-hitting the Lightning 48-26. Pavel Datsyuk's 1st period goal held up as the winner.
Riley Sheahan's first career playoff goal added insurance at 6:42 in the 3rd period. The Lightning pulled goalie Ben Bishop at the end of the 3rd but Luke Glendening put the game out of reach in the final minute with an empty-net goal.
Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said the addition of forward Justin Abdelkader and defenseman Brendan Smith helped his team get the win.
"Both physical guys, both competitive guys. Gave us better matchups, and better offensive zone play, and in the end it led to a win," he said.
Abdelkader hadn't played since April 4 due to a hand injury.
"The good thing is with the injury I could still skate, keep my legs, and that was huge," he said. "I think that went a long way in helping me feel pretty good out there."
He logged just less than 16 minutes of ice time, tallied an assist on Sheahan's goal and dished out six hits.
The Lightning outshot the Red Wings, 22-21, and went 0/6 on the power play. Coach Jon Cooper explained it just wasn't going his team's way.
"They got an extremely fortunate bounce on their first goal ... that was the only bounce they got. That was the only one they needed," he said. "We didn't get any bounces ... if you're ready for the cliche 'a game of inches,' that's what I'm throwing at you."
The Lightning went 0/7 on the power play in their Game 1 loss in Tampa.
"It's a funny game," said Cooper. "I don't think we've been outplayed in any of the games. We just need to get a bounce."
Remaining Lightning-Red Wings series schedule:
Game 4: Thursday, April 23 at Detroit, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)
Game 5: Saturday, April 25 at Tampa Bay, time and TV TBD
Game 6: Monday, April 27 at Detroit, time and TV TBD
Game 7: Wednesday, April 29 at Tampa Bay, time and TV TBD