TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning secured a commanding 3-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday evening, thanks in large part to the stellar performance of goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, who turned away 28 shots. Brandon Hagel was a standout for the Lightning, netting two goals and providing an assist. Meanwhile, Anthony Cirelli contributed a short-handed goal, marking his fourth of the season. This match also marked Vasilevskiy’s second shutout of the current season and the 37th of his illustrious career.
Los Angeles’ David Rittich had a busy night in goal, making 30 saves, but the team suffered its fourth consecutive loss. The Kings have struggled recently, managing only a record of 2-7-1 over their last ten games, and they faced the disappointment of being shut out for the second game in a row.
Hagel kicked off the scoring at 4:45 of the first period. He later sealed the game with his second goal less than five minutes before time expired. Cirelli added an empty-net goal with 1:17 remaining, cementing the Lightning’s win.
In notable player updates, Drew Doughty returned to the lineup for the Kings after logging 23:51 in ice time during his season debut the previous night. With this loss, the Kings’ road record fell to 11-14-2. For the Lightning, defenseman Victor Hedman was recognized as the captain for Team Sweden in the upcoming Four Nations Face-off. He also celebrated a milestone as the 10th Swedish-born player to compete in 1,100 regular-season games. Vasilevskiy added to his achievements with his 21st career assist.
A key moment of the game occurred when the Kings thought they had tied the score early in the second period. Quinton Byfield scored on a breakaway at 7:41, but the Lightning contested the play for offside, resulting in a review. The goal was ultimately deemed invalid as Jacob Moverare crossed the blue line ahead of the puck.
Another critical statistic highlighted the Kings’ ongoing offensive struggles, as they have been restricted to two goals or fewer in seven straight games.
Looking ahead, the Kings will face the Carolina Hurricanes, while the Lightning are set to host the New York Islanders, both games taking place on Saturday night.
