PREVIEW: Red Wings visit Lightning Thursday for 2022-23 season finale

Detroit players focused on heading into offseason 'on a good note'

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By Jonathan Mills
@JonathanDMillsy DetroitRedWings.com

TAMPA BAY -- The Detroit Red Wings will wrap up their 2022-23 season on Thursday night, facing the Tampa Bay Lightning at AMALIE Arena.

Puck drop between the Red Wings (35-36-10; 80 points) and Lightning (45-30-6; 96 points) is set for 7 p.m., with broadcast coverage on Bally Sports Detroit Extra and the Red Wings Radio Network (WWJ Newsradio 950 in Detroit).
As Detroit prepares for its regular-season finale, Andrew Copp stressed that everyone in the club's dressing room has something to play for.
"I thought we played harder as the game went along (on Tuesday), but with heavy hitters out of our lineup, it's gonna take everyone to step up and get a win," Copp said following Tuesday's 4-1 road loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. "It's important for us to go into the offseason on a good note. We've played decently well down the stretch here but would be nice to get rewarded on Thursday with a win."

Meijer Postgame Comments | CAR vs. DET | 04/11/23

The Red Wings were mathematically eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoffs contention on April 6. So when asked how Detroit will find meaning in Thursday's game, goalie Alex Nedeljkovic said there is "always something at stake."
"You have to figure it out yourself," said Nedeljkovic, who made 24 saves against the Hurricanes. "It's one more game in the NHL. It's one more game at a high level and we're gonna play against a really good team. Guys are playing for contracts, roster spots and depth spots."
The Lightning enter Thursday's matchup in third place in the Atlantic Division and are slated to play the Toronto Maple Leafs (109 points) in the first round of the playoffs. Tampa Bay is coming off a 4-3 loss to Toronto on Tuesday.

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Nikita Kucherov (30-82-112) ranks third in the NHL in points, while Brayden Point (49-43-92) and Steven Stamkos (34-50-84) are also averaging more than a point per game this season. Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy is 34-22-4 this season with a 2.65 goals-against average and .915 save percentage.
Detroit is 2-1-0 against Tampa Bay this season.

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