Vasilevskiy's shutout caps Lightning sweep
Andrei Vasilevskiy had 49 saves and the Tampa Bay Lightning completed a fourgame sweep of the Florida Panthers with a 2-0 victory Monday night that sent the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions back to the Eastern Conference final for the sixth time in eight years.
Pat Maroon snapped a scoreless tie at Tampa, batting Zach Bogosian's shot down behind Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky before the puck trickled into the net a little over six minutes into the third period. Ondrej Palat added an empty-net goal with 22 seconds left.
Vasilevskiy won his sixth straight game, a streak that began with the Lightning facing a 3-2 series deficit in the opening round. It was his sixth shutout in his last seven series-clinching wins.
The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner limited the high-scoring Panthers, who averaged a NHL-best 4.11 goals while compiling the league's best record during the regular season, to just three goals in four games.
The Lightning joined the New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens as the only franchises to win at least 10 consecutive playoff series. Their bid to become the first team in 40 years to capture three straight Stanley Cup titles will continue in the East final against either the Carolina Hurricanes or New York Rangers.
KANE'S HAT TRICK HELPS OILERS TOP FLAMES >> Evander Kane was without a team in January after having his contract terminated. He's now a crucial member of Edmonton's playoff push.
Kane had three goals in a six-minute span in the second period, Leon Draisaitl set an NHL record with four assists in one playoff period and the Oilers defeated the Calgary Flames 4-1 on Sunday night to take a 2-1 lead in their second-round playoff series.
Kane signed with the Oilers in January, a few weeks after being waived by the Sharks following a string of off-ice incidents.
“I'm just happy to be part of this group,” Kane said. “Just trying to do my part.”