HOT LIGHTNING TOPS LEAFS BEHIND VASILEVSKIY’S GEM

tampa, fla. » Andrei Vasilevskiy made 30 saves and Steven Stamkos scored his 21st goal as the Lightning beat the Maple Leafs 1- 0 on Wednesday night.

Tampa Bay entered the all- star break by winning eight of its last nine games.

Jonathan Bernier stopped 28 shots for the Maple Leafs, who have lost nine of their last 10 ( 1- 7- 2). Toronto has been outscored 31- 11 during that stretch.

Stamkos put the Lightning up 1- 0 at 4: 38 of the first with a shot from the left circle during a power play. The Tampa Bay captain can become a free agent July 1, and there has been ongoing speculation about the possibility of the Toronto- area native joining the Maple Leafs next season.

Bernier kept the Maple Leafs close with several nice saves, including one on Alex Killorn’s power- play breakaway.

Toronto had the final five shots of the first, and Byron Froese hit the crossbar in the final minute.

Vasilevskiy turned aside a breakaway shot by Michael Grabner early in the second. Toronto had seven of the first nine shots during the opening eight minutes of the second.

It was Vasilevskiy’s first shutout this season and second overall. He got the start in place of Ben Bishop, who will take part in this weekend’s All- Star Game.

WEDNESDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

Jakub Voracek scored 38 seconds into overtime and the Flyers beat the NHL- leading Capitals 4- 3. Voracek’s second goal of the night snapped the Flyers’ threegame losing streak and the Capitals’ two- game winning streak. Brayden Schenn and Ryan White also scored for Philadelphia. … Mike Ribeiro and Shea Weber scored the goals and the Predators held on to beat the Flames 2- 1. In the second period, Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman sent linesman Don Henderson to the ice when he checked him from behind. It wasn’t immediately clear if Wideman mistook Henderson for a Predators player or intentionally hit the linesman.

FOOTNOTES

Ovechkin to skip All- Star Game. Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin will miss the NHL All- Star Game because of a lingering lowerbody injury. By rule, Ovechkin must miss the Caps’ first game after the all- star break. … Mike Richards’ lawyer said the Capitals center will not appear in Manitoba Court on Thursday, as his trial on the charge of possession of a controlled substance has been adjourned to Feb. 25. … The Sabres assigned three forwards to the minors. Cal O’Reilly, Tim Schaller and Philip Varone were demoted to AHL Rochester.