TAMPA, Fla. — Andrei Vasilevskiy made 27 saves for his fourth shutout of the season and the 38th of his career in the Tampa Bay Lightning's 3-0 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night. Nikita Kucherov, Erik Cernak, and Brandon Hagel scored to help Tampa Bay win its seventh consecutive game, marking their longest winning streak since February 2020.
The Lightning are now 8-0-1 over their last nine games, showcasing solid performances across the roster, especially from their goaltender. Vasilevskiy has been on fire, improving to 11-0-1 over his last 12 starts, and clearly, he was the backbone of this commanding victory.
Scoring opened with Kucherov netting a power-play goal just 45 seconds before the end of the first period. A well-placed attempted pass deflected off Calgary's defenseman MacKenzie Weegar's skate and slipped past goaltender Dustin Wolf. The unexpected goal gave the Lightning the momentum heading to the second period, leading 1-0.
The second period saw minimal scoring opportunities, with both teams exchanging power plays but failing to capitalize. Calgary had some promising chances, including one where Jonathan Huberdeau had a rebound opportunity, but Vasilevskiy stretched to his left and made the save, maintaining the Lightning's slim lead.
After a scoreless second, the Lightning struck again with Cernak's goal coming at 3:51 of the third period. Following some effective forechecking, Anthony Cirelli facilitated the play and set up Cernak with a cross-slot pass, which caught Wolf off guard. This goal extended the Lightning's lead to 2-0.
To seal the victory, Hagel added an empty-net goal with just 2:50 remaining, capping off what became another dominant home performance for Tampa Bay. With this win, the Lightning improved their home record to 21-7-2 this season, which is impressive on its own.
The Flames, meanwhile, struggled offensively, being shut out for the third time this season, worsened by the fact they were facing one of the league's toughest goaltenders. They attempted to press their advantage, outshooting Tampa through two periods 16-15, yet failed to find the back of the net.
This victory not only adds to the Lightning's growing winning streak but also boosts their standing as the season approaches its final months. With the NHL Trade Deadline looming, the Lightning will look to solidify their position, possibly making roster moves to bolster their playoff chances.
Both teams will hit the ice again on Saturday night. Calgary will face off against Florida, hoping to rediscover their offense, whereas Tampa Bay will travel to Washington to challenge the leading Capitals.
The Lightning seem to have captured their stride, and their explosive capability on the ice signifies not just immediate success but also potential for greater accomplishments as they push through the remainder of the regular season.
Key moments from the game included Vasilevskiy's stellar saves and the strategic plays leading to each of the Lightning’s goals, emphasizing teamwork and discipline under pressure.
With each performance, the Lightning are proving they are contenders this season, and fans can look forward to seeing just how far this winning momentum can carry them.