Bolts Shut Out Red Wings In Final Season Play; Heading To NHL Playoffs

TAMPA, FL — It was a shutout heard around Tampa Bay.

In the final game of regular season play at Amalie Arena Thursday night, the Tampa Bay Lightning claimed a 5-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings and clinched their playoff seed for a chance to win a fourth Stanley Cup.

Highlights of Thursday night's game included Brayden Point marking his 50th score of the season, and Brian Elliott making 32 saves to record his second shutout.

The Lightning will kick off postseason play next week against the Maple Leafs. Game 1 is set for Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The full playoff schedule is expected to be released Friday.

News of the win had the Lightning's Facebook page blowing up with congratulatory messages from fans who were so disappointed last season when the team failed to win its third straight Stanley Cup Playoff after two previous blockbuster seasons.

Among the posts from excited fans was one from Top Fan Sue Romscho Carter: "Way to go!! Great job, boys! Great job, Brian Elliott!! Love you guys! Braden Point, you are amazing!! Such a class act!! I love our Lightning organization!! Let’s make some noise in the playoffs!!! Go Bolts!!"

"Congratulations to Point and Moose!" said Lynn Johnson. "Great game all the way around, and I love how these players celebrate with their fans and gave their jerseys away. ONLY IN HOCKEY! Love this team!"

"What a way to end the regular season!!!!," posted Ana Armstrong. "Thank you, Moose! And congrats Pointer! Onward to the playoffs!!! Go Bolts!!"

Click here to watch the live fan game blog.

The game began on a high note when Anthony Cirelli passed the puck to Alex Killorn as he headed toward the net, bypassing Red Wings goaltender Ville Husso to give the Lightning the lead.

The Lightning then upped the odds in the third period. With the puck down low, Killorn work it over to Point on the left side of the Detroit net. Although Point couldn't get off a shot, he swept the puck to Brandon Hagel who waited to the right of the net and made the Lightning's second goal.

Later in the third period, Point claimed his 50th goal of the season on a power play with assists from Nikita Kucherov and Mikhail Sergachev. Kucherov took the initial shot and Husso sent the rebound to Point, who was in front of the net. Point cut wide and made the shot from the side of the net to reach the milestone.

In the fourth period, Point added his second goal of the night, while Michael Eyssimont clinched the game with 10 seconds to go in the fifth period, maneuvering a shot past Husso.

The playoff schedule of games is expected to be announced soon by the NHL.

Sixteen of the 32 league teams will be in the playoffs — eight from the Western Conference and eight from the Eastern Conference. The top three finishers of both conferences and two wildcard teams will make the finals and play in eight first-round matchups, eliminating rivals to end up with two teams that will battle for the coveted Stanley Cup.