{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Hockey League
Tampa Bay 4, Arizona 1
When: 7:30 PM ET, Monday, March 18, 2019
Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida
Referees: Jean Hebert, Kevin Pollock
Linesmen: Derek Amell, Pierre Racicot
Attendance: 19092

Tampa Bay earned its first-ever Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's best regular-season team, and Steven Stamkos set a franchise record for the most goals as the Lightning beat the visiting Arizona Coyotes 4-1 on Monday night.

Victor Hedman's goal in the first minute of the third period broke a 1-1 tie, and Tampa Bay's top-ranked penalty-kill held Arizona scoreless with the man advantage in the game's last 1:39.

Anthony Cirelli, who also had an assist, and Yanni Gourde each produced short-handed, empty-net goals in the final minute.

Stamkos, 29, scored the game's second goal of the first period. His 384th career tally broke the franchise record for goals previously held by Vincent Lecavalier, who was a member of the Lightning for 14 seasons. Stamkos is in his 11th season.

The Lightning, who improved to 31-6-2 on home ice secured the No. 1 seed for the postseason.

They became the second-fastest ever to notch the Presidents' Trophy, doing it in their 73rd game. The 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings did it in 71 games.

Tampa Bay also clinched the Atlantic Division title for the second straight season and fourth time in team history.

Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28 shots to win for the 14th time in his past 15 starts. He also had an assist on Gourde's marker.

Clayton Keller scored, and goalie Darcy Kuemper made 20 saves for the Coyotes, who are 4-2-1 in their past seven.

Keller, a 23-goal scorer last year as a rookie, tallied for just the third time in his past 25 games, giving Arizona a 1-0 lead at 5:03 of the first period.

Richard Panik stole the puck on a forecheck in the Arizona offensive zone and quickly whipped the puck over to Christian Dvorak, who set up Keller in the slot for his 14th goal.

Battling for position with Arizona's Mario Kempe in front of Kuemper less than two minutes later, Stamkos deflected in Ryan McDonagh's long shot for his record-setting goal and 36th this season to make it 1-1 after 20 minutes.

Hedman gave Tampa Bay its first lead just 44 seconds into the third period. Cirelli grabbed a rebound and flipped a pass over to the Norris Trophy-winning defenseman, who potted his 10th goal.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Arizona   Tampa Bay
Clayton Keller 1 Points Anthony Cirelli 2
Clayton Keller 1 Goals Anthony Cirelli 1
Christian Dvorak 1 Assists Anthony Cirelli 1
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals Anthony Cirelli 1
Darcy Kuemper .909 Save Percentage Andrei Vasilevskiy .966
Darcy Kuemper 20 Saves Andrei Vasilevskiy 28
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Arizona 29 1 0-2 1-1 4 36
Tampa Bay 24 4 0-1 2-2 6 28
Upcoming Games
  • Tampa Bay will play their next game on the road against Washington. The Lightning have a W/L % of .732 after a win and .882 after a loss.
  • Arizona will play their next game on the road against Florida. The Coyotes have a W/L % of .514 after a win and .472 after a loss.