The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa. Tampa Bay enters the matchup as the favorite and continues to push near the top positions in the Eastern Conference standings. Detroit, meanwhile, is heading toward the end of its season after being eliminated from playoff contention and has struggled to maintain consistent form. The Lightning are traditionally strong on home ice and possess one of the league’s most efficient offensive units, while the Red Wings continue to battle defensive issues despite having productive scoring performances from several key players.
Match Information
| Match | Detroit Red Wings vs Tampa Bay Lightning |
|---|---|
| League | NHL 2025–26 |
| Date | Monday, April 13, 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 PM ET |
| Venue | Benchmark International Arena, Tampa |
| Broadcast | ESPN+ |
| Match Type | Regular Season |
Team Standings Snapshot
Tampa Bay remains firmly in the playoff race and sits among the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Detroit is positioned outside the playoff spots and has struggled to maintain defensive stability late in the season.
| Team | Games | Record | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 80 | 49-25-6 | 284-224 | 104 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 80 | 41-30-9 | 237-246 | 91 |
Tampa Bay’s strong goal differential highlights their balance between offense and defense, while Detroit’s negative differential reflects defensive struggles.
Season Stats Comparison
| Category | Lightning | Red Wings |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.5 per game | 2.94 per game |
| Goals Allowed | 2.78 per game | 3.03 per game |
| Shots per Game | 28.1 | 28.1 |
| Shots Allowed | 26.6 | 27.8 |
| Power Play | 20.66% | 23.14% |
| Penalty Kill | 82.54% | 77.4% |
Tampa Bay ranks among the league’s best defensive teams and also maintains a strong offensive output. Detroit’s power play remains effective, but defensive lapses continue to create problems.
Recent Form – Last Games
Tampa Bay Lightning
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 11 | Bruins | Win 2-1 |
| Apr 10 | Canadiens | Loss 1-2 |
| Apr 8 | Senators | Loss 2-6 |
| Apr 7 | Sabres | Loss 2-4 |
| Apr 5 | Bruins | Win 3-1 |
The Lightning recently snapped a losing streak with a strong road win in Boston and will look to build momentum heading back home.
Detroit Red Wings
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 12 | Devils | Loss 3-5 |
| Apr 10 | Flyers | Win 6-3 |
| Apr 8 | Blue Jackets | Loss 3-4 (SO) |
| Apr 5 | Wild | Loss 4-5 |
| Apr 4 | Rangers | Loss 1-4 |
Detroit has managed only one win in its last five games and has struggled to close out matches defensively.
Head-to-Head Record
The Lightning currently lead the season series and have controlled most of the recent meetings between the two teams.
| Date | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 2026 | Lightning | 4-1 |
| Nov 28, 2025 | Lightning | 6-3 |
| Oct 18, 2025 | Red Wings | 2-1 |
Tampa Bay has dominated recent matchups at home and continues to dictate play through strong offensive pressure.
Key Players to Watch
Tampa Bay Lightning
| Player | Recent Impact |
|---|---|
| Nikita Kucherov | 4 points in last 5 games |
| Jake Guentzel | 4 points recently |
| Gage Goncalves | Playmaking support |
Kucherov remains the centerpiece of Tampa Bay’s attack and continues to drive scoring opportunities.
Detroit Red Wings
| Player | Recent Impact |
|---|---|
| Dylan Larkin | 9 points in last 5 games |
| Moritz Seider | 6 points recently |
| Justin Faulk | 3 goals recently |
Detroit’s offense continues to rely heavily on Larkin’s leadership and playmaking ability.
Goaltending Comparison
| Team | Goalie | Goals Against Avg | Save % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Andrei Vasilevskiy | 2.30 | .911 |
| Lightning | Johansson | 3.29 | .884 |
| Red Wings | John Gibson | 2.67 | .903 |
| Red Wings | Cam Talbot | 3.07 | .888 |
Vasilevskiy provides Tampa Bay with one of the league’s most reliable goaltending presences.
Injury Report
Tampa Bay Lightning
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Pontus Holmberg | Out |
| Max Crozier | Out |
| Dominic James | Out |
| Victor Hedman | Out |
| Darren Raddysh | Day-to-Day |
| Zemgus Girgensons | Day-to-Day |
Detroit Red Wings
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Michael Rasmussen | Out |
| Mason Appleton | Day-to-Day |
Injuries affect both teams, but Tampa Bay still maintains depth across its lineup.
Projected Lineups
| Detroit Red Wings | Tampa Bay Lightning |
|---|---|
| Larkin – DeBrincat – Raymond | Guentzel – Point – Kucherov |
| Perron – Copp – Kane | Hagel – Cirelli – Stamkos |
| Rasmussen – Compher – Sprong | Eyssimont – Paul – Goncalves |
| Fischer – Veleno – Fabbri | Motte – Glendening – Sheary |
| Walman – Seider | Hedman – Cernak |
| Chiarot – Petry | Sergachev – Perbix |
| Maatta – Holl | Raddysh – Fleury |
| Gibson / Talbot | Vasilevskiy / Johansson |
Betting Odds Snapshot
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Moneyline | Lightning -198 |
| Moneyline | Red Wings +164 |
| Total Goals | 6 |
| Puck Line | Lightning -1.5 |
Tampa Bay is favored due to strong home performance and overall roster depth.
Best Picks for the Game
| Pick Type | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Match Winner | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| Puck Line | Lightning -1.5 |
| Total Goals | Over 6 |
| Anytime Impact Player | Nikita Kucherov |
The matchup could produce several scoring opportunities given Detroit’s defensive issues and Tampa Bay’s strong offensive capabilities.
Match Prediction
Tampa Bay enters this game with a clear advantage in roster depth, defensive structure, and goaltending. Playing at home also gives the Lightning additional confidence, as they have historically performed well against Detroit on their own ice. The Red Wings continue to score goals but struggle to prevent them, which could make it difficult to contain Tampa Bay’s aggressive offense. If the Lightning maintain their puck pressure and capitalize on power-play chances, they should control the pace of the game.
Predicted Score:
Tampa Bay Lightning 5 – 2 Detroit Red Wings
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