The two teams evenly split six goals through the first 40 minutes, but Detroit pulled away in the third, scoring twice to build a lead that the Bolts could not overcome.
With the sixth skater on, Nikita Kucherov made it a one-goal game only to have the Red Wings respond with two more empty netters to round out the scoring.
Brian Elliott got the start in goal and had his personal seven-game winning streak snapped in the loss.
With Friday's game against the Sabres postponed because of the expected effects of a winter storm in the Northeast, the Lightning will now be off until after Christmas. They pick things up again next Wednesday at home against the Canadiens.
Scoring Summary
1st Period
TBL 1, DET 0
1:29 Brayden Point (17) - Nikita Kucherov, Erik Cernak
Tampa Bay's top line made sure there wouldn't be a second-straight slow start. On a clean 2-on-1 rush, Brayden Point shot the puck himself and picked out the top corner on Ville Husso to give the Bolts the lead 1:31 into the game.
TBL 1, DET 1
15:34 Olli Maatta (3) - Pius Suter
After an incredible sequence in which Brian Elliott managed to deny chance after chance despite a massive pileup in his crease, the Red Wings maintained possession and reset. From below the goal line, Pius Suter set up Olli Maatta out from for the game-tying goal.
TBL 2, DET 1
18:38 Alex Killorn (9) - Ross Colton, Nick Perbix
Nick Perbix made a nice play at the blue line to hold the puck in the offensive zone and fired on goal. Husso was there for the stop, but Alex Killorn pulled free the rebound and roofed the puck.
TBL 2, DET 2
19:32 Michael Rasmussen (5) - Ben Chiarot, Oskar Sundqvist
Tampa Bay's second lead lasted less than a minute before the Red Wings equalized again. Ben Chiarot's shot from the point appeared to be going well wide of the net, but Michael Rasmussen redirected it back on frame.
2nd Period
DET 3, TBL 2
11:08 Dylan Larkin (11) - David Perron, Michael Rasmussen
The Lightning fell behind for the first time midway through the second period when Dylan Larkin sniped a shot past Elliott from the left circle.
DET 3, TBL 3
13:15 Ross Colton (8) - Unassisted
Adam Erne flubbed an ill-advised cross ice pass and had it easily intercepted by Ross Colton alone in front of the Red Wings' net. Colton promptly scored to tie the game just over two minutes after Larkin's goal.
3rd Period
DET 4, TBL 3
3:48 Elmer Soderblom (4) - Joe Veleno
Elliott tried to clear the puck out along the near wall but had his pass intercepted by Joe Veleno. With Elliott out of his crease, Veleno feed Elmer Soderblom alone in front for a tap-in goal.
DET 5, TBL 3
9:46 Dylan Larkin (12) - Unassited
Larkin jumped on a loose puck below the left circle, spun and fired it past Elliott at the near post to give the Red Wings an insurance tally midway through the third period.
DET 5, TBL 4
16:13 Nikita Kucherov (13) - Victor Hedman, Steven Stamkos
Down by two, the Lightning opted for an early pull of Elliott and quickly scored to make it a one-goal game. Nikita Kucherov fired from the right circle and had the puck just trickle through Husso's equipment and over the line.
DET 6, TBL 4
17:27 David Perron (11) - Dylan Larkin - ENG
Any hope of a Lightning comeback pretty much evaporated when David Perron found the empty net with less than three minutes to play in regulation.
DET 7, TBL 4
18:59 Michael Rasmussen (6) - David Perron - ENG
Michale Rasmussen scored Detroit's second empty net goal to extend their lead to three and round out the scoring.
