Lightning beat Red Wings in game-7 to advance

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Braydon Coburn broke a scoreless tie early in the third period and Ben Bishop made 31 saves to help the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Detroit Red Wings 2-0 on Wednesday night in Game 7 of the first-round series.

Ryan Callahan set up Coburn’s third goal in 79 career postseason games with a pass through the slot to the top of the right circle, where the Tampa Bay defenseman sent a shot over goalie Petr Mrazek’s right shoulder.

Anton Stralman added an empty-net goal with 1:18 remaining, ensuring the Lightning would win their first Game 7 at home since they beat Calgary in the 2004 Stanley Cup Final.

Tampa Bay, which rallied from a 3-2 series deficit, advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals against Montreal. The Canadiens host Game 1 on Friday night.

The Red Wings outshot the Lightning 31-17, but Bishop wasn’t tested a lot in posting his first career playoff shutout. Coburn was obtained from Philadelphia in a trade March 2 and had one goal in 43 games for Tampa Bay during the regular season.

Tyler Johnson’s third two-goal game of the series helped the Lightning even the series with a 5-2 victory in Detroit on Monday night. With Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall suspended for Game 7 for a hit on Nikita Kucherov, the Lightning felt good heading back to Amalie Arena, where they posted the NHL’s best home record this season.

But after winning the series opener, as well as shutting out the Lightning in Game 5, on the road, Detroit liked its chances of advancing, too.

The Red Wings outshot the Lightning 14-7 in the first period, but had few real scoring opportunities early against Bishop.

They didn’t generate much more in the second period, although there was an anxious moment for the sellout crowd of 19,204 when Drew Miller’s chip got behind Bishop when the goaltender left the net to cut off the forward on a breakaway. The puck trickled left past the unprotected net, and Detroit wasted another chance to break the scoreless tie when Tomas Tatar was unable to control a pass from Darren Helm and get off a shot in front of the Tampa goal.

Detroit’s frustration on the power play also continued. The Red Wings were 0 for 3 in man-advantage situations Wednesday night and 5 of 29 for the series.

Notes: Tampa Bay improved to 4-1 in Game 7s. … Detroit coach Mike Babcock remained tied for ninth with Toe Blake with 82 career playoff wins. Babcock is 3-5 in Game 7s. … It was Lightning coach Jon Cooper’s first Game 7. … In addition to playing without Kronwall, Detroit D Marek Zidlicky missed the game with an undisclosed injury. … Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg did have a goal in the series. Neither did Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, who was second in the NHL with 43 during the regular season.