With a 6-2 win over the visiting Detroit Red Wings, the Tampa Bay Lightning put distance between themselves and Detroit and Boston and move back into first place in the Atlantic Division.
Beginning the last extended homestand of the regular season, in play tonight was the classic "four point game" scenario. With a loss, the Lightning would hold a tenuous two-point lead over the Red Wings, current residents of the second wildcard and final Eastern Conference slot. Instead, with the win, that lead is now a relatively healthy six points and thanks to tiebreakers with the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay is on top of the Atlantic Division.