Lightning vs. Red Wings LIVE: Score Updates, Highlights & How to Watch Tonight’s NHL Showdown

Little Caesars Arena becomes the Atlantic Division’s focal point tonight as the Tampa Bay Lightning travel north to battle the surging Detroit Red Wings. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+, Bally Sports Sun and Bally Sports Detroit, making “Lightning vs Red Wings live stream” one of the hottest searches of the day. Detroit (3-1-0) rides a three-game winning streak highlighted by a 4-1 statement win over the Panthers, vaulting the Wings into second place behind Montreal. Newcomer Alex DeBrincat already leads the club with six points, while Mason Appleton’s unexpected three-goal burst has provided welcome secondary scoring. Tampa Bay (1-2-1) limps in after an overtime loss in Washington and ranks seventh in the Atlantic, but the Bolts have historically feasted on Detroit, winning nine of the last ten meetings. Injury news tilts the scales tonight. Former Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov is sidelined with illness, stripping Tampa of its top finisher and power-play engine. Detroit counters without play-making winger Lucas Raymond (upper body), yet the Red Wings’ depth has proven capable of filling the void. Key players to watch • Brayden Point, Lightning – five points in four games and a 55% faceoff win rate keep Tampa’s offense viable. • Alex DeBrincat, Red Wings – six assists already and chemistry with Dylan Larkin on the top line give Detroit a lethal first-unit look. • Victor Hedman vs. Moritz Seider – two Norris-caliber blue-liners anchoring their respective power plays. Between the pipes, Andrei Vasilevskiy (0-2-0, 4.08 GAA, .870 SV%) seeks a bounce-back against Cam Talbot (3-0-0, 1.78 GAA, .932 SV%), whose hot start has energized Detroit’s fan base. Projected lineups show Steven Santini recalled to stabilize Tampa’s blue line, while Detroit keeps its third pair intact. Lightning vs Red Wings odds lean slightly toward the visitors at –140 on the moneyline; the over/under sits at 5.5 goals, reflecting each club’s early-season scoring bursts. Bettors should note Detroit’s 26.7% power-play success versus Tampa’s league-worst 70% penalty kill. How to watch free or without cable: Subscribe to ESPN+ or sign in with a participating TV provider via the ESPN app; cord-cutters can bundle ESPN+ with Hulu Live TV for a single-click option. Local radio calls are on 970 WFLA (Tampa) and 97.1 The Ticket (Detroit). With division positioning already in flux, tonight’s Lightning vs Red Wings matchup offers a mid-October litmus test: can Detroit prove its hot start is no fluke, or will Tampa’s championship core reassert supremacy? Expect playoff-level intensity, special-teams fireworks, and a crowd ready to remind everyone that Hockeytown is back.