VASILEVSKIY, STAMKOS POWER LIGHTNING PAST MAPLE LEAFS
Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped all 30 shots he faced and Steven Stamkos scored the lone goal early in the first period to guide the Lightning to their eighth victory in their past nine games overall as well as their sixth straight win at Amalie Arena.

* At 27-18-4 (58 points), the Lightning climbed back into second place in the Atlantic Division, where teams Nos. 2-4 are separated by just one point. They also moved within five points of the idle Panthers (29-15-5, 63 points) for first place.

* Vasilevskiy – a native of Tyumen, Russia – earned his second career shutout (also March 3, 2015 vs. BUF: 28 SV) while playing his first NHL game in front of his parents.

* “It was their first NHL game and I did well . . . I showed them I can play in the NHL,” said Vasilevskiy, who won his sixth consecutive decision. “A shutout is always amazing for a goalie, but the most important thing is the win.”

* Stamkos notched his team-leading 21st goal of the season and 10th via the power play, tied for fifth in the NHL with Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin. He also picked up his fifth game-winning goal of the campaign.

AVALANCHE, PREDATORS CONTINUE WILD PLAYOFF PUSH
Both the Avalanche and Predators earned one-goal victories to head into the All-Star break occupying the two Wild Card spots in the Western Conference:

* Nathan MacKinnon scored the tiebreaking goal with 9:25 remaining in regulation to help the Avalanche rally from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits en route to their fifth victory in their last six games. Per Elias, Colorado overcame a two-goal deficit to win for the fourth time this season – second in the NHL behind Dallas (5x). MacKinnon posted his fifth game-winning goal of the campaign, while Gabriel Landeskog (2-0—2) registered his eighth career multi-goal game and second of 2015-16 (also Oct. 10 vs. DAL: 2-2—4).

* Shea Weber scored what stood as the game-winning goal and Carter Hutton made 26 saves to lead the Predators to a sweep of their four-game road trip through Western Canada. Weber ranks fifth among defensemen with 12 goals this season; his nine strikes via the power play also place second among blueliners, behind Carolina’s Justin Faulk(12). Hutton improved to 5-2-1 in eight appearances this season (2.36 GAA, .916 SV%, 1 SO).

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner played in his 423rd consecutive games (all w/ WSH) to pass Bobby Carpenter (422) for the longest such streak in franchise history.

LOOSE PUCKS
Despite suffering the overtime loss, Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (28 SV) has earned at least one point in 25 of his past 26 decisions dating to Nov. 12 (22-1-3) . . . Kings defenseman Drew Doughty scored his first career shorthanded goal (573 GP) . . . Capitals forward Andre Burakovsky (2-0—2) registered his second career multi-goal game (also Feb. 15, 2015 at ANA: 2-0—2) . . . Maple Leafs goaltender Jonathan Bernierturned aside 28 of 29 shots . . . Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm (0-1—1) extended his assist/point streak to a career-high five games (1-5—6) . . . ICYMI: Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick (15 SV) made a helicopter paddle save.

REMINDER: NHL ALL-STAR BREAK
The NHL’s All-Star break begins today and runs through Monday, Feb. 1.

There will no scheduled practices and dressing rooms must be closed through Sunday, Jan. 31.

the above information was supplied by the NHL PR department