Andrei Vasilevskiy makes 27 saves in the Lightning's 3-0 victory over the Flames

Andrei Vasilevskiy makes 27 saves in the Lightning’s 3-0 victory over the Flames

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Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) and defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) team up to stop a shot by Calgary Flames right wing Matt Coronato (27, center) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Calgary Flames center Connor Zary (47) crashes into the goal after colliding with Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser (90) and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Calgary Flames center Kevin Rooney (21) gets checked by Tampa Bay Lightning center Michael Eyssimont (23) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning center Gage Goncalves (93) gets taken down by Calgary Flames left wing Joel Farabee (86) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) celebrates his power-play goal against the Calgary Flames with defenseman Victor Hedman (77), left wing Brandon Hagel (38), center Jake Guentzel (59), and center Brayden Point (21) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning center Jake Guentzel (59) battles with Calgary Flames defenseman Kevin Bahl (7) and defenseman Rasmus Andersson (4) for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri (91) takes a shot against Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak (81) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak (81) celebrates behind Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri (91) after his goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning center Michael Eyssimont (23) knocks the puck away from Calgary Flames defenseman Joel Hanley (44) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) controls the puck in front of Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (32) and defenseman Rasmus Andersson (4) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

By ERIK ERLENDSSON

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Andrei Vasilevskiy made 27 saves for his fourth shutout of the season and the 38th of his career in the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 3-0 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.

Nikita Kucherov, Erik Cernak and Brandon Hagel scored to help Tampa Bay win its seventh consecutive game. The streak is the Lightning’s longest since a 10-game run Jan. 29 to Feb. 17, 2020. Tampa Bay is 8-0-1 in the past nine games.

Dustin Wolf made 20 saves for Calgary. The Flames were shut out for the third time this season.

Kucherov opened the scoring on a power play with 45 seconds left in the first period. His attempted pass through the slot deflected off the skate of Calgary defenseman MacKenzie Weegar.

Cernak made it 2-0 at 3:51 of the third period, and Hagel added an empty-net goal with 2:50 left.

Takeaways

Flames: LW Blake Coleman, who won Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay in 2020 and 2021, appeared in his 600th career game. … Nazem Kadri’s seven-game scoring streak came to an end.

Lightning: C Anthony Cirelli tied a career high with 45 points. … Vasilevskiy improved 11-0-1 in his past 12 starts.

Key moment

The Flames were on a power play in the opening minutes of the second period down by a goal when Jonathan Huberdeau had a rebound chance that Andrei Vasilevskiy stretched out to his left to deny.

Key stat

Tampa Bay won its 20th consecutive game when leading after two periods.

Up next

Both teams are in action Saturday night. Calgary is at Florida, and Tampa Bay is at Washington.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl