Driedger gets third shutout as Panthers beat Lightning 4-0
Chris Driedger stopped 30 shots to record his third shutout of the season, Juho Lammikko scored a short-handed goal, and the Florida Panthers secured home-ice advantage for the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 4-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the regular season finale for both clubs.
Lightning stay unbeaten at home with 3-1 win over Red Wings
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 30: Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning looks on during a game against the Nashville Predators at Amalie Arena on January 30, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)TAMPA, Fla. – Barclay Goodrow scored a pair of goals and the Tampa Bay Lightning remained undefeated on home ice with a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night. Goodrow’s second goal of the game was the 6,000th goal in Lightning franchise history. Tampa Bay extended its point streak against Detroit to 19 games (18-0-1) and has won 16 consecutive regular-season home games against the Red Wings. Tampa Bay Lightning: At Nashville Predators on Monday.
Red Wings play better but suffer same fate against Lightning
The Detroit Red Wings turned in a much better effort Friday in Tampa Bay than they did two nights earlier. Vasilevskiy improved to 10-0-0 lifetime against the Red Wings (2-8-2), who are winless in eight (0-6-2). The Lightning are 17-1 in their past 18 vs. the Red Wings overall, including the playoffs. The Red Wings entered the game averaging only 1.91 goals per game, the second-lowest output in the NHL. The Red Wings play two games in Florida, Sunday (3 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit) and Tuesday (7 p.m.).
mlive.comLightning Effect: Skilled NHL teams add grit to go for Cup
Rewind to 2019 and early 2020 and that description fits the Tampa Bay Lightning, who added some grit and toughness to their talented core and went on to win the Stanley Cup. The Lightning effect was clear as soon as NHL free agency opened. “You need guys that are going to have a little bit of sandpaper. “We maybe have taken a little bit of a step back from the most skillful lineup we’ve ever had to more of a balance between the will and the skill," Poile said. We certainly have a little bit more physicality, a little bit more grit and I think it’s probably and hopefully a better mix than we had last year.”___More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
NHLs final four have gotten deeper with plenty of newcomers
Chandler Stephenson won a Stanley Cup title two seasons ago with the Washington Capitals, the team he was still playing with at the start of this season. He was fired by San Jose in December and hired a month later after the Golden Knights parted ways with Gerard Gallant, the coach who took them to the Stanley Cup final in their inaugural season two years ago. Tampa Bay's free-agent additions last summer were Maroon and veteran defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, then defenseman Zach Bogosian became available in February when Buffalo terminated the 12-year veteran's contract. I think guys like Patty (Maroon), guys like Barclay, they kind of allow us to play with our chests a little bit puffed out. New York hasn't been to a Stanley Cup final since 1984, a year after winning its fourth title in a row.