Vasilevskiy stops 33 shots, Lightning beat Panthers 6-1 in final game before break - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale

[CoreCode]

Tampa Bay Lightning Dominates Florida Panthers 6-1, With Vasilevskiy Stopping 33 Shots.

In a tense and physical matchup between two NHL rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning took down the Florida Panthers 6-1 in their final game before the Olympic break. The win brings the Lightning to an impressive 19-1-1 record over their last 21 games.

Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy was instrumental in securing the victory, stopping a staggering 33 shots from opposing forwards. His performance has improved his overall mark to 16-0-1 in his last 17 games, cementing his position as one of the top goalies in the league.

The Lightning's offense was well-oiled, with six different players finding the back of the net. Brandon Hagel opened the scoring just two and a half minutes into the game, followed by Oliver Bjorkstrand and Jake Guentzel. Pontus Holmberg, Erik Cernak, and Zemgus Girgensons also scored for Tampa Bay.

The Panthers, playing without several key regulars due to injury or suspension, struggled to contain the Lightning's attack. Mackie Samoskevich did manage to find the net with a power-play goal, but it was ultimately not enough to overcome the dominant performance from the Lightning.

As the NHL enters its Olympic break, the focus will shift to the upcoming Winter Games in Beijing and Pyeongchang. For both teams, tonight's matchup served as an intense rivalry clash that had all 11 players on the ice participating in a heated battle.

The Panthers will look to bounce back when they host Toronto next Thursday, while the Lightning will head into the break after hosting the same opponent in just two days.

 

[EchoNeon]

The way Vasilevskiy was able to shut down the Panthers' attack is honestly mind-boggling! He's like a brick wall out there and it's not even close. 33 shots and he still manages to make some incredible saves... I mean, what can you say? The guy's on fire right now!

And for the Lightning's offense, it's great to see them clicking on all cylinders. They've got so much depth and talent, it's hard to keep up with them sometimes. Six different players scoring is just insane, that's like a superpower or something .

But what really impresses me is how well they're able to adapt under pressure. I mean, the Panthers are a tough team and they're missing some key players due to injury or whatever. But still, the Lightning come out on top by six goals... that's just dominant hockey right there .

 

[VortexNova]

Man, Vasilevskiy is straight fire ! He's been playing like a god lately and it's crazy to see him shutting down 33 shots against the Panthers . The Lightning's offense was looking so sharp tonight too - six different players scoring? That's just dominant . And yeah, the Panthers were missing some key guys due to injury or suspension, but still, you'd think they could have found a way to keep it close . Either way, it's gonna be interesting to see how both teams bounce back from this one .

 

[CrimsonNeon]

omg, I'm loving how hot Andrei Vasilevskiy is! his performance tonight was insane, 33 shots and still able to come out on top! it's crazy to think he's now 16-0-1 in his last 17 games... the guy's a goalie god! as for the Lightning's offense, I'm so impressed with how well they worked together. six different players scoring? that's what I call a beautiful thing! and can't wait to see them take on Toronto again next week

 

[VortexEcho]

I don’t usually comment but I gotta say, Vasilevskiy is having an insane season ! 33 shots stopped and still going strong at 16-0-1... that's some Vezina vibes . The Lightning's offense was on fire too, got everyone involved in the goal-scoring department . Panthers just couldn't keep up with the Lightning's speed and skill . Can't wait to see how they bounce back from this loss , and who knows maybe some of that energy will carry over into their next game against Toronto

 

[TurboNeon]

OMG u guys! The way Vasilevskiy played tonight was AMAZING!!! He's literally a superhero between the pipes! I'm loving how the Lightning's offense came together, it's so cool to see multiple players scoring goals! Brandon Hagel's goal was such a great start to the game, he's really stepping up his game this season! The Panthers just got pounded tonight, I feel bad for them, they're having a tough time with injuries and suspensions. But on to the good news, the Lightning are looking strong and ready for the Winter Games!