Lightning edge Stars

In Dallas, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy  made 16  saves in a 2-1 win over the Stars on Tuesday night.

“A few guys told me after the last game (a 4-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday) and before this game that tonight could be a record,” Vasilevskiy said. “I just don’t think about that. I just try to do my job, work hard, do my routine before the game so I can play my best game every night.”

The win was Vasilevskiy’s 12th straight win, a Tampa record.

“I’m very proud of our team; it was an unbelievable effort,” Vasilevskiy said. “[We] only [allowed] seven shots against through the first two periods, [which] was nice. It’s never happened to me before. I just want to say thank you to my teammates.”

Roope Hintz was the lone goal scorer for the Stars, he posted a a first period goal for a 1-0 Dallas lead.

“The worst thing you can do against that team is, No. 1, turn the puck over anywhere through the neutral, and sit back,” Dallas head coach Rick Bowness said. “I thought we were fine in the first, and in the third we played on our toes and went after them a little. If you sit back like we did in the second, you’re just asking for trouble.”

Yanni Gourde picked up the game-winner in the second period.

“In the end, that’s how you win hockey games,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “It’s not necessarily how many you put in the net, it’s what you keep out. Aside from that one power-play going in early, we didn’t give them much. Guys were committed to defending, and hence that’s how you win 2-1 games.”

Steve Stamkos tied the, 1-1, with a power-play goal midway through the middle frame.

Tampa improved to 24-6-2.

“I just tried to get it on net and was fortunate enough that the puck came back right in front of me,” Gourde said. “My stick was free, so I tried to shoot it right away.”

Dallas flubbed an opportunity in the game when they missed on a two-man advantage.

“When you have a 5-on-3, you’ve got to score,” Bowness said. “We’ve got our best players on ice for a 5-on-3 for a minute and a half you’ve got to score. Simple as that.”

Anton Khubodin made 24 saves in the loss.

“To beat them, we know what to do; you just have to be willing to do it for the entire game,” Dallas’ Andrew Cogliano said. “We have to do that Thursday night and if we do that, hopefully we’ll get a win and build some momentum.”