Lightning vs Red Wings Live Updates: Score, Highlights & How to Watch the NHL Clash

Detroit—NHL fans are set for a lunchtime showdown today as the Tampa Bay Lightning visit the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena (12 p.m. ET, ESPN+). The Atlantic Division tilt features a surging Lightning squad riding a five-game winning streak against a Red Wings team looking to snap a two-game slide and even the season series. Recent form • Tampa Bay (14-7-2) has climbed to the top of the division behind a dominant stretch in which the Bolts have out-scored opponents 20-8 over their last five games, including a 5-1 victory against Calgary on Wednesday. • Detroit (13-10-1) fell 6-3 to Nashville on Wednesday and has allowed 10 goals in its last two outings, dropping to fifth place in the Atlantic. • The Red Wings did edge Tampa 2-1 in overtime on Oct. 17, so they carry a 1-0 lead in the four-game season set. Key players to watch • Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov paces the matchup with 27 points, while linemate Jake Guentzel (24 pts) stays hot after scoring in back-to-back games. • Detroit captain Dylan Larkin (26 pts) remains Detroit’s engine, and sniper Alex DeBrincat enters with 12 goals. • Between the pipes, Andrei Vasilevskiy’s .918 save percentage gives Tampa a clear edge over Cam Talbot (.887) and John Gibson (.870) in Detroit. Stat snapshot • Goals for/against per game: Tampa 3.22 / 2.65; Detroit 2.92 / 3.33. • Power play: Red Wings 22.8 % (6th NHL); Lightning 14.9 % (28th) but riding a recent 3-for-12 uptick. • Penalty kill: Tampa fifth overall at 88.3 %, Detroit 17th at 80.9 %. Betting update Sportsbooks list Tampa Bay as a −125 money-line favorite; Detroit sits at +105. The over/under is 6.5 goals, with early money leaning to the under thanks to Vasilevskiy’s form and Tampa’s top-five defense. What’s at stake A Lightning win would extend their streak to six and widen the gap atop the Atlantic, while a Red Wings victory would tighten the division race and halt their mini-skid before a brutal back-to-back at Boston. Expect high-tempo hockey: Tampa ranks third in five-on-five shot share this month, and Detroit averages over 30 shots per game on home ice. How to follow TV/stream: ESPN+ (national), Bally Sports Detroit, Bally Sports Sun. Radio: 97.1 FM The Ticket (DET), 970 WFLA (TBL). Live stats and play-by-play: NHL.com GameCenter and the official NHL app. Prediction The Lightning’s depth scoring and goaltending advantage make them slight road favorites, but Detroit’s top line has proven it can exploit Tampa’s aggressive forecheck. If the Wings stay disciplined, another one-goal thriller is on tap. Final call: Lightning 4, Red Wings 3 (OT).