Red Wings vs. Lightning game thread, start time, TV schedule and lineups

Well, this is it folks, winner take all. Whoever wins this game will be travelling to Montreal for a game on Friday night against the Canadiens. Given the respective season series results, most Habs fans will be pulling for Detroit in this one, but one would be very safe to bet that the players themselves will be watching both sides closely in this one. Either team will be a tough match and the Tricolore had best be prepared.

Detroit will be without Niklas Kronwall in this game, as he is serving a suspension for his hit on Nikita Kucherov in game six. They are also down Marek Zidlicky due to injury. This quite obviously weakens the blue line for the Wings, and they'll have to make due with Jakub Kindl and Alexey Marchenko as their replacements. Tampa, meanwhile, is healthy and looking to complete their comeback in this series.

Regardless of who you may be rooting for in terms of matching up against the Habs, this should be a great game to watch. After all, it is the playoffs, it is game seven, and we all know how thrilling those can be. At least if your favourite team is not involved, you can just sit back and enjoy the insanity, of which it is probable there will be a lot.

The puck drops at 7:30 PM EST.

Suspended: Niklas Kronwall
Injuries: Marek Zidlicky (undisclosed)

Whoever wins, let's just hope the boys in Bleu Blanc et Rouge are ready for them come Friday night.

Follow @DrakeMT