Home / Sports / Wings Collapse Late, Lightning Stumble Again
Wings Collapse Late, Lightning Stumble Again
12 Mar
Summary
- Detroit Red Wings lost a late lead and key forward Andrew Copp to injury.
- Tampa Bay Lightning dropped their seventh game in nine, citing being in a rut.
- Both teams are struggling with injuries to key forwards and defensemen.
The Detroit Red Wings are reeling after a critical 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers, which saw them concede the winning goal with just 15 seconds remaining. This defeat, following a promising late lead, was compounded by a new injury to forward Andrew Copp. The Red Wings are now in a precarious position in the playoff race, with a slim lead over the teams on the bubble.
Adding to Detroit's woes, Copp's injury follows that of captain Dylan Larkin, who has missed recent games. Coach Todd McLellan expressed frustration over the team's inability to secure at least one point from the game. The Red Wings have struggled recently, with a 4-6-2 record in their last dozen matches, and are trying to recover from a devastating defeat.
Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning are also in a significant slump, having lost six of their last seven games, including a 5-2 defeat to Columbus on Tuesday. Coach Jon Cooper described the team as being "in a rut," noting a lack of rhythm and execution, and compounded emotional challenges. Their defensive corps has been particularly hard-hit by injuries.
Both teams are dealing with multiple player absences, making their upcoming matchup particularly challenging. The Red Wings and Lightning have already split their season series, each winning on home ice earlier in the season.
