Guentzel, Vasilevskiy help Lightning beat Islanders 4-1 for 4th straight win
Guentzel, Vasilevskiy help Lightning beat Islanders 4-1 for 4th straight win
The puck gets past Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) on a goal scored by Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 3, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Nick Paul (20) celebrates after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vegas Golden Knights, Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (22) is escorted off the ice after fighting during an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) reacts as the Vancouver Canucks celebrate a goal by Teddy Blueger during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The puck gets past Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) on a goal scored by Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 3, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
The puck gets past Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) on a goal scored by Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 3, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Nick Paul (20) celebrates after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vegas Golden Knights, Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)
Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Nick Paul (20) celebrates after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vegas Golden Knights, Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (22) is escorted off the ice after fighting during an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (22) is escorted off the ice after fighting during an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) reacts as the Vancouver Canucks celebrate a goal by Teddy Blueger during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) reacts as the Vancouver Canucks celebrate a goal by Teddy Blueger during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
NEW YORK (AP) — Jake Guentzel had a goal and an assist, Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28 shots, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the New York Islanders 4-1 on Tuesday night for their fourth straight win to inch closer to clinching a playoff spot.
Oliver Bjorkstrand scored his 20th of the season, Victor Hedman also scored and Nick Paul added an empty-netter for the Lightning. Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point each added two assists.
Bo Horvat scored a short-handed goal for New York and Ilya Sorokin made 19 saves as the Islanders lost their sixth straight (0-4-2), further diminishing their slim playoff hopes.
Guentzel scored the tiebreaking goal at 8:09 of the second period. Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech inexplicably left Guentzel alone and Kucherov delivered a beautiful pass to set up the go-ahead goal.
Hedman made it 3-1 about 2 1/2 minutes later, and Paul capped the scoring into an empty net with 3 1/2 minutes left in the third.
Takeaways
Lightning: Vasilevskiy recorded his 36th win of the regular season, trailing only Connor Hellebuyck of NHL-leading Winnipeg Jets.
Islanders: Sorokin started four of the Islanders previous six losses, allowing 14 goals during that stretch.
Key Moment
Horvat missed a one-timer during an Islanders two-man advantage roughly five minutes into the second period while the game was even at 1-1. Tampa Bay then scored twice in the period to take a 3-1 lead.
Key stat
Kucherov’s two assists raised his season total to 111 points and reclaimed the NHL scoring lead. Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon is in second place with 110.
Up next
Lightning visit Ottawa on Thursday, and Islanders host Minnesota on Friday.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl