In their final road game of the regular season, the Tampa Bay Lightning (48-24-8), behind Steven Stamkos‘ three points, beat the Florida Panthers 4-0 and clinched home ice advantage in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The loss eliminated the Panthers from playoff contention. Stamkos broke out of a personal seven game goal drought in a big way, scoring the first two Lightning goals, raising his season total to 42. Ryan Callahan and Tyler Johnson had the other Bolts goals.
Goalie Ben Bishop stopped all 34 shots the Panthers fired at him to earn his franchise record 38th win of the season and his fourth shutout.
Both teams came out flying with a good compete level in the scoreless first period. Despite the lack of fans, the building had a playoff feel to it. Shots were 7-6 in favor of the Panthers.
The Lightning struck first, on the power play, when Steven Stamkos rifled a one timer from the left circle by Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo at 6:10 of the second period. Stamkos’ 41st goal of the season was assisted by Tyler Johnson and Nikita Nesterov. It was the Bolts’ fourth straight game with a power play goal. The goal ended a season high seven game goal drought for Stamkos.
Panthers killer Steven Stamkos scored again at 11:10 from Ryan Callahan to put the Bolts up 2-0. Stamkos sniped it from the right circle past Luongo’s glove for his 42nd of the season…scoring slump officially over.
Goalie Ben Bishop was superb in the second period stopping all 15 of Florida’s shots.
Shots for the period were 15-8 in favor of Florida.
Just 1:03 into the third period, Ryan Callahan scored his 24th of the season on a great feed from Steven Stamkos to make it 3-0 Lightning. Callahan somehow got it under Luongo’s arm and into the net.
Tyler Johnson got into the scoring act when he took a pass from Jonathan Drouin and beat Roberto Luongo for his 27th goal of the season at 18:13. It was Drouin’s 28th assist of the season.
Bolts goalie Ben Bishop was outstanding in the period making big save after big save.
The Lightning penalty killers were outstanding, killing off four penalties, including a brief 5-on-3.
Tampa Bay were outshot 34-22 but had the better scoring chances.
The Lightning now have 104 points, two short of tying the franchise record, set by the 2004 Stanley Cup winning squad. They are tied with Montreal for the Atlantic Division lead, but the idol Canadiens still have a game in hand.
The Lightning will finish the season as the only NHL team to suffer three or more consecutive losses. Certainly they are a model of consistency.
Victor Hedman (lower body), Braydon Coburn (lower body, Jason Garrison (lower body), Andrej Sustr (upper body) and Alex Killorn (undisclosed – day-to-day) were the scratches.
The Lightning will host the New Jersey Devils Thursday night.
(Feature Photograph/Getty Images)
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