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Lightning journal: Andrei Vasilevskiy deflects credit for fourth shutout of season

 
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD   |   Times Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy makes a stop on Wild center Charlie Coyle during the Lightning's 3-0 win Saturday at Amalie Arena. He stopped 22 shots fr his league-leading 23rd win and fourth shutout of the season.
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy makes a stop on Wild center Charlie Coyle during the Lightning's 3-0 win Saturday at Amalie Arena. He stopped 22 shots fr his league-leading 23rd win and fourth shutout of the season.
Published Dec. 24, 2017

TAMPA — Lightning G Andrei Vasilevskiy was his usual self after Saturday's 3-0 victory against the Wild. He accepted very little credit for posting his fourth shutout of the season.

"Guys are playing really well in front (of the net). Just fearless and good execution. The shutout is for our team. We deserve it," he said.

Vasilevskiy stopped 22 shots in recording his league-leading 23rd victory. Though the Lightning's recently maligned penalty kill stole the show by stopping all six of the Wild's power plays, Vasilevskiy held the Wild's offense in check until the Lightning erupted for three goals in the final three minutes.

"We know we have the offense in here, but it's not going to happen every night," captain Steven Stamkos said. "You're going to have teams that play well defensively. You're going to run into a hot goalie. It's nice to have 'Vasy' back there. He's played extremely well. It's great to get him the shutout. We wanted to really shut it down the last minute and get it for him. He's a big reason we won."

RELATED: After a rough stretch, penalty kill comes up big for Lightning in win over Wild.

Girardi to the rescue

D Dan Girardi snapped the scoreless tie Saturday by skating toward the net unchecked and burying a pass from C Brayden Point for his second goal of the season. It was a perfect pass from Point, who fed it across ice to one of the Lightning's least expected scorers.

"(Girardi) deserves that," D Victor Hedman said. "He sacrifices his body every game. He was sneaking in the play there, and it was great patience by Point to find him. I was very happy for him to get that goal, and it was huge for us."

Coach Jon Cooper said Girardi is playing the same defense-first role with the Lightning that he played during his 11 seasons with the Rangers.

"But we want our guys to be able to jump in holes regardless of who you are," Cooper said. "I don't know if it's natural for him to do that all the time, but he's a bright player, and I thought he was outstanding (Saturday) all over the ice, especially on the penalty kill. When he sees an opportunity to find a hole, he does. I think everyone was mesmerized with what 'Pointer' was doing, and all of a sudden, (the puck is) in the back of the net. Dan saw that play develop, and that's having a high IQ."

RELATED: Lightning's first option for upgrades: AHL Syracuse.

As for the pass …

Brayden Point has developed into the Lightning's best playmaker. He had the attention of the Wild defense Saturday's on Dan Girardi's goal as he skated toward the net with the puck. That allowed Girardi to sneak in for the backdoor goal. But that wouldn't have happened unless Point was able to get the puck to the wide-open Girardi.

"(Point has) done that a few times for us, and his skating has improved so much from a few years ago when we first saw him in development camp," coach Jon Cooper said. "He has that extra gear where somebody thinks they have him checked and all of a sudden he goes by them and he's created time and space for himself and made a (heck) of a play."

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RELATED: Nikita Kucherov in elite company with points pace.

Slap shots

RW Nikita Kucherov leads the NHL in points (51) and goals (24). … G Andrei Vasilevskiy has allowed two or fewer goals 18 times this season and in 11 of his past 16 starts … C Tyler Johnson's ninth goal of the season Saturday was the 98th of his career, tying him with Chris Gratton for ninth on the Lightning's all-time list. Johnson has at least one point in his past nine games … D Victor Hedman played 28:31 minutes Saturday and was plus-3. He is plus-15 over his past 10 games.

Up next

vs. Canadiens, 7:30 Thursday, Amalie Arena

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