Vasilevskiy dominant in goal for Lightning
Andrei Vasilevskiy is a notso-secret key ingredient in the Tampa Bay Lightning’s recipe for success in the playoffs.
The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy recipient won his fifth straight postseason game Sunday, stopping 34 shots to help the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions beat the visiting Florida Panthers 5-1 and move to the brink of another trip to the Eastern Conference final.
“It all starts with him,” forward Nick Paul said after Vasilevskiy stood tall again in shutting down the high-scoring Panthers, who had the NHL’s best record while averaging a league-high four goals per game in the regular season.
The Presidents’ Trophy winners have three goals in three games against the Lightning, who have a 3-0 series lead and are within one victory of going to the conference final for the sixth time in eight years.
“There’s a whole ton of things that go into it,” coach Jon Cooper said of Tampa Bay’s defensive effort.
“But we’re committed to play D, and I think it’s helped in some of these times that we’ve had the lead. … But we have a plan, and the guys are executing and playing hard,” Cooper added. “We feel like we’ve got a recipe going here, and we just have to stick with it. It’s hard, though, because they’re a hell of a team.”
Steven Stamkos scored two goals and Nikita Kucherov had a goal and three assists for the Lightning.
Game 4 is Monday night at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla..
Rangers 3, Hurricanes 1:
Mika Zibanejad had a goal and an assist, Igor Shesterkin stopped 43 shots, and host New York beat Carolina in Game 3 of their second-round playoff series. Chris Kreider and Tyler Motte also scored as the Rangers cut their deficit to 2-1 in the best-of-seven matchup. Game 4 is Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Briefly: Colorado defenseman Samuel Girard will miss the rest of the playoffs after suffering a broken sternum when he was checked behind the net by St. Louis forward Ivan Barbashev in Game 3 of a Western Conference semifinal series Saturday. ... St. Louis goalie Jordan Binnington, who left Game 3 after a collision with Colorado’s Nazem Kadri, will miss the rest of the series, coach Craig Berube said Sunday . ... Pittsburgh forward Bryan Rust, who was eligible to become a free agent, agreed to a six-year, $30.75 million contract with the team.