BRANDON, Fla. – The Red Wings have dealt with adversity before, but not to this magnitude.
Thursday’s loss was a devastating punch to the sternum for the Wings in their Eastern Conference first-round series with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Instead of heading back here with a 3-1 series lead – like they should have – and getting a crack at eliminating the Lightning on Saturday, the Wings squandered a two-goal lead and now find themselves in a best-of-three scenario.
The Lightning’s 3-2 comeback win in overtime was still an open wound for the Wings following their 25-minute practice at the Ice Sports Forum on Friday afternoon.