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Vasilevskiy stopped 151 of 154 shots in the four games for the
two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, including the last 88.
He has recorded shutouts in six of his past seven
series-clinching playoff wins.
Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said of Vasilevskiy: "We didn't
want to waste that game that he played."
Pat Maroon broke a scoreless tie in the third period for Tampa
Bay, which had two goals waved off following reviews in the
second. Ondrej Palat added an empty-net goal in the final
minute.
Maroon has won 14 consecutive playoff series, counting his time
with the St. Louis Blues (Stanley Cup champs in 2020) and the
Lightning (champs the past two seasons).
Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves for the Panthers, who had the
best record in the NHL during the regular season. The
Presidents' Trophy winner failed to advance past the second
round of the playoffs for the seventh consecutive year.
Maroon's goal was set up by Lightning defenseman Zach Bogosian,
who stopped the puck in front of the blue line and flicked a
shot up high at Bobrovsky.
The puck popped in the air and Maroon reached over Bobrovsky,
getting a blade on it before Bobrovsky backed into the bouncing
puck and knocked it across the goal line.
Palat, who had been called for delay of game with 2:30
remaining, came out of the box and scored with 23 seconds left.
Alex Killorn appeared to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead at 8:44 of
the second period when he tipped in a slap shot from Mikhail
Sergachev.
The Panthers claimed the puck had glanced off the netting above
the corner just prior to the goal and play should have been
stopped.
Following a long review, officials agreed and disallowed the
goal.
Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov then appeared to score on a
one-timer from the left faceoff circle two seconds after
teammate Anthony Cirelli won a faceoff in the Florida zone.
However, the Panthers challenged again, claiming Cirelli used
his glove to pass the puck to Kucherov and play should have been
stopped because of a hand pass.
After another review, the referees waved off the goal.
Florida outshot the Lightning 18-3 in the scoreless first
period.
Vasilevskiy made five saves during a power play in the final
minute of the first period to keep the game scoreless.
The Panthers didn't capitalize on three power plays to finish
1-for-31 with the man advantage in the playoffs. They were shut
out for the first time this season -- regular season or
postseason.
Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad said, "It's a tough pill to
swallow. Getting swept is tough. It hurts. It stings. There's no
doubt about it."
Florida center Joe Thornton, 42, played in his 187th NHL playoff
game. Only former San Jose Sharks teammate Patrick Marleau has
appeared in more playoff games (195) without winning a Stanley
Cup.
--Field Level Media
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