TAMPA, Fla. _ It took 43 games, but the Lightning recorded their first shutout of the season Thursday in winning their ninth straight game.
They didn't allow Andrei Vasilevskiy to have a lot of work, but he saved the 25 shots he saw from the Coyotes in a 4-0 victory as Tampa Bay tied the second-longest winning streak in team history. The Lightning won a team record 10 straight games last season.
Tampa Bay's current streak is the longest active in the league.
The Lightning (26-13-4) needed Vasilevskiy early and late at Amalie Arena. A few turnovers in the first period could have gone badly but for his saves.
Alex Killorn got the Lightning started in the first period, jamming in a rebound of Pat Maroon's shot with 4:54 left. Mikhail Sergachev added a goal a couple of minutes later, courtesy of a Coyote's skate.
Nikita Kucherov scored twice in the second period. The first goal came on nice pass from Brayden Point and the second on a good feed from Steven Stamkos as that superstar line continues to perform.
Twice before this season, Vasilevskiy had gone late into a game with a shutout, only to give up a goal in the final minutes. He was tested Thursday as the Coyotes pressed and the Lightning went into protection mode, again making saves on a couple of turnovers.
