8* play on Tampa Bay Lightning.

We think home ice advantage will prove to be a big factor in this series. Despite being down star Steven Stamkos, we feel that the Lightning are the better team across the board. Detroit on the other hand had to once again battle tooth and nail to even make it into the postseason, doing so in the final week. Tampa's goaltender Ben Bishop was pivotal in the team's run to the Stanley Cup Final last year and he is a Vezina Trophy candidate this season. The Wings will start veteran netminder Jimmy Howard; after getting beat out earlier in the year by Petr Mrazek, Howard earned his starting role back as the season progressed. Keep your eyes on Tyler Johnson, who scored six goals and had an assist in Tampa Bay's four wins in the first round vs. the Wings last year. Detroit expended so much energy to just make it to this point, that a letdown is now inevitable (at least in this first game). Note that Detroit has followed a similar pattern of late, getting eliminated in its opening round in three of the past four years, after struggling to make a playoff spot. Play on the LIGHTNING.

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