Stamkos, Vasilevskiy help Lightning edge Maple Leafs

TAMPA -- Steven Stamkos scored a power-play goal 4:38 into the game and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 30 saves for his second NHL shutout to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 1-0 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amalie Arena on Wednesday.
The Lightning (27-18-4) have won eight of their past nine games. It was their first 1-0 victory at home since Oct. 29, 2011, when Vincent Lecavalier scored and Dwayne Roloson shut out the Winnipeg Jets.

Vasilevskiy said it was a special night because it was the first time his parents saw him play an NHL game in person.
"It was their first NHL game and I did well ... I showed them I can play in the NHL," Vasilevskiy said. "A shutout is always amazing for a goalie, but the most important thing is the win."
Jonathan Bernier made 28 saves for Toronto (17-22-9), who finished 3-7-2 in January and have lost four in a row.

Stamkos scored his 21st goal of the season and 297th of his career with Toronto defenseman Roman Polak in the penalty box for delay of game. Defenseman Anton Stralman made a pass from the point to the left circle, where Stamkos beat Bernier with a one-timer.
"We felt prepared coming into the game and had good energy," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. "We took a penalty, a tough penalty right away, and he shot it in the net how many seconds later? And then we were a little bit unraveled."
The Lightning continued to create scoring opportunities and held a 17-1 shot advantage 13 minutes into the first period, but Bernier kept his team in the game.
"For a period we really attacked tonight," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "It was just a continued barrage, and we stopped."
The Maple Leafs dominated the second period, outshooting Tampa Bay 11-5. Their best chance came during a power play when PA Parenteau was alone in front, but Vasilevskiy made a glove save from point-blank range.
"Our game turned at the start of the second period, we had puck possession the whole time and we got one shot," Cooper said. "We took our foot off the gas, and remember you're playing another team that wants to win and is battling their tail off, and eventually things turn. That's what happened. We got a little casual, a little cute, we tried to pass the puck into the net instead of shooting, and that's what happened."
Toronto forward Leo Komarov said the Maple Leafs have to cash in on their opportunities.
"We had a lot of chances and just couldn't get the puck in the net," Komarov said. "Their goalie played good, he's a good goalie, but when we have chances we need to score too. When you score one you get more confidence but we've had three goals in our last three games. It's tough."
Toronto continued putting pressure on Vasilevskiy in the third period, outshooting the Lightning 13-7, but he made saves on two one-timers in the slot from defenseman Dion Phaneuf and stopped a breakaway by Rielly.

"Bottom line is we've got to find a way to bear down," Phaneuf said. "I had two point-blank [chances] ... give the goalie credit, he made a couple of good saves but I have to bear down on those chances in tight. I thought it showed a lot of character in the way that we played in the second and third, pushing and pushing but give their goalie credit, he was good as was ours."
Vasilevskiy's first shutout was a 3-0 victory against the Buffalo Sabres on March 3, 2015.
"[Vasilevskiy] had some unbelievable saves for us, he kept us in the game and eventually won the game for us," Stralman said. "It's what you want to see from him. Everyday he's working hard and playing well in practice and it's nice for him to get that reward in games."
To Stamkos, having to hold on for the victory after such a fast start was a bit of a disappointment.
"We came out great, we didn't finish very well in the second and third," he said. "Very disappointing, to be honest. We found a way to win because our goaltender gave us a chance. You can't rely on that every night.
"I don't think we can be totally satisfied with this one."