The Lightning turned play around in the second period, showing a good sense of urgency to get back into the game. Guy Boucher changed up lines a little bit and when Martin St. Louis, Vincent Lecavalier, and Steven Stamkos began playing together on the top line, is when the surge began for Tampa Bay.
When the Lightning got on the power play, Marc-Andre Bergeron made an impressive play when he kept the puck in the zone, allowing St. Louis to snap home a one-timer behind Jimmy Howard. St. Louis’s goal was originally set up by a textbook pass from Teddy Purcell. The goal is St. Louis’s first power play goal of the season.
Both the Red Wings and the Lightning focused more on defense in the second period, with Tampa Bay edging Detroit in shots by 6-5. The Lightning’s play in the second period didn’t mimic its play in the first period, as the team tied up Detroit players in the neutral zone and got more blocked shots. Lightning defensemen Eric Brewer has four blocked shots of his own. Tampa Bay’s stretch passes were also coming from the tops of the circles instead of from behind the net, like what happened in the first period.
In the latter stages of the second period, Boucher decided to double-shift his top line and it ended up being a good decision. Matt Gilroy distracted the Red Wings defense, setting up Stamkos, who scored with 14 seconds remaining in the second period, tying the game up 2-2.