NHL Playoffs 2016: Lightning take out Red Wings, farewell Datsyuk

The Tampa Bay Lightning have eliminated the Detroit Red Wings in game five of round one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Tampa Bay consistently led this series and finished off the Red Wings late in game five. Lightning goalie Ben Bishop made 34 saves to take his team to a 1-0 win with a goal from Alex Killorn. Killorn scored with only 1:43 remaining in the third period to take Tampa Bay to round two of the playoffs.

Tampa Bay will face either the Florida Panthers or the New York Islanders in round two.

Game 5 was also the last game for Red Wings veteran and NHL star Pavel Datsyuk. He announced before the playoffs that he will return to Russia to spend time with his daughter after the playoffs. He told media that he does not expect to return to the NHL. There’s a possibility that he could make an appearance in Russia’s league, the KHL, but that is speculative at this point.

Datsyuk has played 953 games in the NHL, tallying 314 goals and 604 assists in his career. He entered the NHL in 1998, being drafted by the Red Wings.

You can read his full comments on leaving the Red Wings and the NHL, here.

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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports

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