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Lightning hangs on to beat Kings

 
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD   |   Times  Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) makes a behind-the-back save against Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) during Saturdayâ\u0088\u009A¢â\u0080\u009A\u0082 \u0308â\u0080\u009A\u0084¢s (2/10/18) game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the LA Kings at Amalie Arena in Tampa.
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) makes a behind-the-back save against Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) during Saturdayâ\u0088\u009A¢â\u0080\u009A\u0082 \u0308â\u0080\u009A\u0084¢s (2/10/18) game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the LA Kings at Amalie Arena in Tampa.
Published Feb. 11, 2018

TAMPA — The night was supposed to belong to Vinny Lecavalier, with the former Lightning captain's No. 4 raised to the Amalie Arena rafters in a classy jersey retirement ceremony.

But it was Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy who stole the show with what might be the save of the year in a 4-3 win over the Kings. Heck, it might be the save of the decade.

"Definitely one of the best saves I've ever seen live," captain Steven Stamkos said.

With the score tied at 1 and the Kings on a power play midway through the first period, Anze Kopitar saw an open net inside the left post. But Vasilevskiy reached back with his left arm for a stunning behind-the-back glove save. Kopitar flipped his head to the ceiling.

The sellout crowd of 19,092 exploded.

Shortly after that, Alex Killorn jumped out of the box and scored on a breakaway to give Tampa Bay the lead for good. Vasilevskiy's save brought the building, and his team, to life. Vasilevskiy's 44 saves, including one on Drew Doughty at the buzzer, were the difference.

"Thank god for 'Vas,' " defenseman Anton Stralman said. "He definitely pulled this one out for us. He's the best. There's no doubt in my mind."

The game got too interesting by the end, with the Lightning nearly coughing up a three-goal third-period lead as the Kings pulled within one with 6:55 to go. Tampa Bay will take a second straight win no matter how, especially because it will play five of its next seven on the road, including Monday and Tuesday on its dads trip to Toronto and Buffalo. But there is still a concern after getting outshot 20-4 in the third period.

"As much as I'm happy we have (Vasilevskiy) back there and wouldn't survive without him, I feel a little ashamed we have to depend on him that much," Stralman said. "It shouldn't come to that. Not good enough. You look at down the stretch and what we're trying to prepare for, that's not going to take us very far."

There were plenty of encouraging signs for the Lightning. Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov continue to put their recent goal slumps behind, each scoring for the second straight game. Killorn's rejuvenated play as of late was evident again, and not just on his breakaway goal. Center Cedric Paquette got back in the lineup and made an impact with just his second goal of the season.

And Tampa Bay appeared to catch a break when Mikhail Sergachev returned for the third period after a knee-to-knee hit from the Kings' Dustin Brown, who received a five-minute major and a game misconduct.

"I thought (Sergachev) was done," coach Jon Cooper said.

The Lightning, which had lost its confidence after some alarming play in recent weeks, appeared to have regained some of its edge. It had a lot of jump from the opening faceoff, with the likes of Yanni Gourde and Killorn wreaking havoc. Cory Conacher scrapped with Kings goalie Jonathan Quick.

Stamkos opening the scoring 1:05 in — on a wicked shot from an awful angle — provided a spark. And when the Kings responded four minutes later, Vasilevskiy was there to make sure the game didn't get away from Tampa Bay.

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The Lightning is still leaky defensively and will likely address its blue line by the Feb. 26 trade deadline. Tampa Bay hung Vasilevskiy out to dry in the third period, with the Kings pulling to within one with just under seven minutes left following a turnover.

But Vasilevskiy showed, from his highlight-reel save to the end, why he has been the team MVP. He said he didn't see anything on the save on Kopitar, he just caught a glimpse of the forward's stick at the last second and reached back with his glove.

"Just get lucky," he said.

And Kopitar agreed, telling Vasilevskiy after the game "to go buy a lottery ticket."

But Cooper believed the stellar stop was more calculated, the result of a blend of will and skill.

"I just coached in the All Star Game and saw the best of the best do some remarkable things," Cooper said. "That save topped it. That puts you in awe."