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No Filppula, Callahan for Bolts in key Atlantic clash with Detroit

Detroit Red Wings v Tampa Bay Lightning - Game Seven

Detroit Red Wings v Tampa Bay Lightning - Game Seven

NHLI via Getty Images

The Tampa Bay Lightning have a shot to move atop the Atlantic Division tonight with a win over the Red Wings.

That victory won’t be easy to come by, though.

On Tuesday morning, Bolts head coach Jon Cooper confirmed that veteran forwards Valtteri Filppula and Ryan Callahan wouldn’t be available for selection. Filppula has been dealing with an upper-body ailment that’s kept him out of the lineup recently, while Callahan is suffering from an undisclosed injury.

Though Filppula and Callahan have had down years offensively -- just 28 points each -- they both see pretty regular minutes, with Callahan getting 17:17 per night. Filppula’s at 18:22.

As mentioned in the headline, this is a key clash for both clubs.

The Lightning could move past Florida into first in the division -- via the ROW tiebreaker -- after the Panthers lost last night to the Rangers.

Detroit, meanwhile, will be looking to secure two points to stay clear of the hard-charging Flyers. The Red Wings are just one point clear for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, but the Flyers have a game in hand -- and, after beating the Isles 4-1 on Monday night, they’re back in action this evening against Columbus.