Lightning Host Red Wings Amid Detroit’s Winning Push

Tampa Bay’s Lightning welcome the Detroit Red Wings to Tampa on November 3, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. The teams meet for the first time this season. Tampa Bay is 8-3-2 overall, while Detroit is 7-5-3 and shares last place in the Atlantic Division on 17 points.

The Lightning have won six straight at home. Both clubs are 6-2-2 over their last 10 games; Tampa Bay has averaged four goals per game in that span, while Detroit has averaged 3.4.

Detroit comes to Tampa after beating the Florida Panthers 5-3. Goaltender Daniil Tarasov made 23 saves, and the victory was the Red Wings’ third in their last four games. Carter Mazur also scored his first career goal. Justin Faulk called the Florida trip “a good test for us.”

The Red Wings are also dealing with Dylan Larkin’s suspension without pay after he refused to play amid his trade request. He has five years remaining on his eight-year, $69.9 million contract, signed in March 2023. Alex DeBrincat said the team would focus on the players available, saying, “We’re confident in our group here.” Detroit has lost once in four games since Larkin’s suspension was announced on October 29.

John Carlson leads Tampa Bay with five goals and three assists, while Detroit’s Viktor Arvidsson has tallied eight goals plus seven assists. Both teams have players listed as injured, including Tampa Bay’s Yanni Gourde, who is out with a hip injury, and Detroit’s Mason Appleton, who is out with an undisclosed injury.