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Lightning battles injuries, loses to Detroit

 
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jason Garrison (5) leaves the ice after being injured in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings in Detroit Saturday, March 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) MIPS104
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jason Garrison (5) leaves the ice after being injured in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings in Detroit Saturday, March 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) MIPS104
Published March 29, 2015

DETROIT — The Lightning fell 4-0 to the Red Wings on Saturday afternoon, missing another chance to clinch a playoff spot.

But more important, Tampa Bay lost two regulars to injury.

Veteran defenseman Jason Garrison suffered an upper-body injury early in the first period and headed back to Tampa after the game to be evaluated. There were encouraging early reports on center Cedric Paquette, whose left leg bent awkwardly around a goal post after he crashed into it to prevent an empty-net goal. The crash looked ugly. Paquette's status for Monday against the Canadiens was uncertain.

"It (stinks), there's no question about it," veteran wing Ryan Callahan said. "You never want injuries, especially this late in the year. Let's hope it's not serious."

Said coach Jon Cooper: "It'd be a tough blow."

Unlike Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Predators, a game in which the Lightning (46-23-7) deserved a better fate, Tampa Bay didn't deserve anything in this one. Captain Steven Stamkos said its battle and compete levels were low, especially in the second period, when the desperate Red Wings, who avoided a season sweep by the Lightning, tallied three goals in four minutes to blow open a scoreless game.

The Lightning was shut out for the first time this season, its struggling power play 0-for-5.

"When you play like that, you can't really expect to win," Stamkos said. "We had some spurts, but we really didn't do much out there tonight."

Veteran Brian Boyle said it was uncharacteristic effort and that the Lightning needs to "right the ship quick" with the showdown with Montreal looming.

"There were moments when the emotion wasn't there, either, that's disappointing for all of us," Boyle said. "We need to be better. Pucks aren't going to bounce your way every night. But that's got to be automatic."

Boyle once again had to step in and play some shifts on defense after Garrison left the game four minutes in. Garrison went to retrieve the puck behind the Lightning net and appeared to lose an edge as Detroit's Justin Abdelkader hit him from behind. Abdelkader got a two-minute boarding penalty. Goalie Ben Bishop called the hit dirty.

"Square behind the numbers in a vulnerable spot — guys have gotten multiple games (of a suspension) for that hit," Cooper said. "Game happens fast. I've seen that not called. I've seen guys get five (minute penalties) for it. So it's a judgment call.

"(Abdelkader is) an honest player. Because he plays the game hard, he's going to find himself in situations like that. Sure he didn't mean to do it, but it was a tough spot to hit (Garrison)."

For the Lightning, Paquette's injury was especially tough to watch. With the Lightning down 3-0 and two minutes left in the game, Paquette relentlessly raced back to stop Abdelkader from scoring an empty-net goal. His left leg curled around the right post, and Paquette quickly tossed his gloves with him in apparent pain. He was helped off the ice by Stamkos and Anton Stralman.

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"There's no quit in that kid," Cooper said. "You can't surround yourself with enough of those guys. Hopefully he's going to be okay."

Contact Joe Smith at joesmith@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_JSmith.

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First PeriodNone. PenaltiesAbdelkader, Det (boarding), 3:43; Boyle, TB (hooking), 4:05; Sustr, TB (high-sticking), 14:04; Andersson, Det (cross-checking), 18:56.

Second Period1, Detroit, Andersson 2 (Quincey, Weiss), 5:25. 2, Detroit, Abdelkader 23 (Nyquist), 7:19. 3, Detroit, Nyquist 24 (Quincey), 9:19. PenaltiesEricsson, Det (holding), :35; DeKeyser, Det (hooking), 17:21.

Third Period4, Detroit, Glendening 11, 18:21 (en). PenaltiesPaquette, TB (roughing), 2:36; B.Smith, Det, served by Jurco, double minor (roughing), 2:36; Drouin, TB (slashing), 6:04; Palat, TB (hooking), 13:24; Drouin, TB, misconduct, 18:21; Quincey, Det, misconduct, 18:21; Pulkkinen, Det (slashing), 18:58. Shots on GoalTampa Bay 7-7-9—23. Detroit 8-9-6—23. Power-play opportunitiesTampa Bay 0 of 6; Detroit 0 of 4. GoaliesTampa Bay, Bishop 36-13-4 (22 shots-19 saves). Detroit, Mrazek 15-7-1 (23-23). A20,027 (20,027). T2:28. Referees—Tom Kowal, Brad Meier. LinesmenAndy McElman, Matt MacPherson.