Detroit Red Wings at Tampa Bay Lightning, Projected Lineup, How to Watch

7:30p ET, Amalie Arena

Tampa, FL

TV: FSD

Radio: 97.1 FM The Ticket // 1270 AM CBS Sports Radio

Lightning Blog: Raw Charge

Here we are again old friends, on the cusp of another hockey season in Detroit. For the life of me I cannot think of a more tumultuous, emotional and at times frustrating offseason for the Red Wings since the playoff streak began. As a fandom we shed collective tears over the retirement of Pavel Datsyuk and the loss of Gordie Howe. We watched in anger/frustration/disbelief as a once promising cap situation was fouled up by Ken Holland cramming questionable contract after questionable contract onto an already crowded roster. We followed in anticipation as the future home for the Red Wings took shape and eventually a name. But all of that is now behind us and it is time to look forward to another NHL season filled with excitement, thrills and Nick Lidstrom willing a 26th straight year of playoff hockey in Detroit.

The quest for 26 straight begins tonight with the Red Wings heading down south to take on what is becoming an all too familiar opponent in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Many expected there to be some new faces in the Tampa lineup when last season ended but Steve Yzerman did a masterful job convincing Steven Stamkos to stay, extending Victor Hedman and re-signing every one of their key restricted free agents. Tampa is fast, skilled, confident, hungry and absolutely a serious contender to win it all this year.

In the end, there are few things better than opening night in the NHL. So reach down and cinch up your laces tight my friends, because hockey is back and the 2016-2017 Red Wings rollercoaster is about to leave the station.

Red Wings Expected Lineups

Forwards

Defensemen

Goaltenders

Scratches: Andreas Athanasiou, Ryan Sproul, Edward Pasquale

Injuries: Niklas Kronwall (knee), Tomas Nosek (lower body injury), Tomas Jurco (back), Johan Franzen (concussion), Joe Vitale (concussion) Villi Saarijarvi (wrist), Daniel Renouf (knee)

Lightning Expected Lineups

Forwards

Defensemen

Goaltenders

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Game Day Prediction Contest

Would you like to predict the outcome of the game and potentially become internet famous? Well you’re in luck, because here’s your opportunity. Here’s how it works.

Make your game predictions on the winning team, final score, and who the Wings player of the game will be. Enter the required information into the form below using the formats indicated in the questions. If you don’t use those formats, your answers will be disregarded. All submissions are timestamped and will be accepted only until the official game start time. All other submissions after that will be disregarded. Only one submission per person, please. POTG will be determined by the collective of WiiM writers.

Each correct winning team prediction is worth 1 point. Each correct player of the game prediction is worth 2 points. Each correct final score prediction is worth 5 points. If you get all three correct you’ll receive 15 points.