Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said Game 2 against Detroit was a “way closer game” than the series opener.
Cooper figured the Lightning’s performance Saturday was “very similar” to Game 1, and the Red Wings “played way better.”
The results, however, couldn’t have been more drastic.
Nearly three minutes into Game 2, Steven Stamkos set off the crowd by putting Detroit’s Kyle Quincey in a headlock.
Soon after, the Lightning had a headlock on the game.
Three goals in the second period lifted the Lightning to a 5-1 win in front of a raucous Amalie Arena crowd, leveling the First Round series 1-1.