NHL teams
Craig Custance, ESPN Senior Writer 8y

Rapid Reaction: Detroit Red Wings 2, Tampa Bay Lightning 0

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings earned their first win of the postseason with a 2-0 victory on home ice over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The win cuts Tampa Bay's series lead to 2-1.

How it happened: The story of this game was the jump and energy provided by 21-year-old rookie Andreas Athanasiou. After the Red Wings' power play failed on four occasions in the first and second periods, Athanasiou one-timed a pass from Joakim Andersson that beat goalie Ben Bishop to open the scoring. It was Athanasiou's first career playoff goal.

In the first period, he electrified a festive Joe Louis Arena crowd with a complete 360 before firing his shot just high. He finished the game with 9 minutes, 5 seconds of ice time, the highest of his young playoff career and a sign that coach Jeff Blashill might be learning more on him to pump speed and skill into the mix.

Detroit got a break on its second goal when a broken-stick shot from Mike Green bounced around the crease, with the puck eventually hitting both of Henrik Zetterberg's skates and finding its way past Bishop. It was reviewed every which way, for both being kicked in and a possible goalie interference -- but the goal stood. The goal was just Zetterberg's second since Feb. 20.

What it means: The Red Wings might just make a series of this yet. After dropping the first two games of the series and looking absolutely overmatched in the process, this win was a much-needed one for Detroit. The switch to home ice helped Blashill get Luke Glendening out against Tyler Johnson's line, a strategy that worked in the playoffs last year and helped contain Johnson. After putting up six points in the first two games, Johnson was held to zero points and zero shots in the first game on the road.

Detroit spent a majority of the game in the offensive zone but was aided by getting multiple power-play attempts. If they're going to pull even in the series, they can't keep squandering early opportunities on the power play, such as the 59 seconds of a first-period 5-on-3 during which the Red Wings managed only two shots on goal.

The Lightning will have to play much more disciplined in Tuesday's Game 4 to wrestle back control of this series.

Detroit goalie Petr Mrazek wasn't overly tested but finished the game with 16 saves and earned a shutout win that should be a confidence booster for a player who struggled down the stretch last season.

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