Stamkos, Lightning Beat Panthers 4-0 To Clinch Home Ice
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SUNRISE (CBSMiami/AP) – Led by Steven Stamkos' two goals and an assist, the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Florida Panthers 4-0 on Saturday night.
Tyler Johnson also scored and Ryan Callahan had a goaland an assist. Ben Bishop stopped 34 shots in his fourth shutout of the season.
The Lightning won for the second time in six games and secured home-ice advantage for the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Tampa Bay is tied with Montreal for first place in the Atlantic Division.
Roberto Luongo made 18 saves on his 36th birthday for the Panthers, who were eliminated from playoff contention. They will miss the postseason for the 13th time in the past 14 seasons.
Stamkos has 17 goals and 10 assists in his last 17 games against Florida. Tampa Bay is 14-2-1 in the past 17 matchups.
Stamkos gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal in the second. He took a pass from Johnson high in the left circle and one-timed it past Luongo at 6:10.
The goal was the first for Stamkos since a 3-1 win March 20 against the Detroit Red Wings, a span of eight games.
Stamkos made it 2-0 on his second goal. His shot from the right circle got past Luongo and went high into the net at 11:19 of the second. The goal was Stamkos' 42nd of the season.
Callahan stretched the margin to 3-0. His shot from the right circle went off Luongo's pad and trickled across the goal line 1:03 into the third.
Johnson's goal with 1:41 left made it 4-0.
NOTES: The Lightning are 24-7-2 this season when Stamkos scores a goal. ... Johnson returned after missing three games with an upper-body injury. ... D Victor Hedman missed his third game with a lower-body injury. ... Panthers RW Scottie Upshall returned after missing two games with a lower-body injury.
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