By Canadian Press

Vasilevskiy sets wins record, Lightning beat Senators 2-1

Dec 16, 2021 | 8:11 PM

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Andrei Vasilevskiy set an NHL record for wins in a calendar year, Steven Stamkos picked up his 900th career point and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Ottawa Senators 2-1 on Thursday night.

Vasilevskiy made 25 saves to get his 63rd win in 2021 regular-season and playoff games. He broke the record of 62, established by Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury in 2009.

Stamkos and Martin St. Louis (953) are the only Tampa Bay players to reach 900 points. The center is also the 118th NHL player to accomplish the feat.

Victor Hedman had a goal and an assist, and Alex Killorn also scored for the Lightning, who lost 4-0 at Ottawa last Saturday. Tampa Bay is 7-1-1 over the last nine games.

Ottawa’s Anton Forsberg made a number of strong stops among his 25 saves. He recorded his first career shutout in Saturday’s win over Tampa Bay.

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The Senators, who had won five of six, got a goal from Thomas Chabot.

Stamkos reached the milestone at 15:05 of the second period when he assisted on Hedman’s power-play goal that put Tampa Bay ahead 2-1.

Killorn tied it at 1 early in the second.

Chabot picked up the puck in the neutral zone, came in from the left wing and lifted a shot over Vasilevskiy 15:43 into the game. The defenseman ended his 27-game goal drought.

Ottawa defenseman Nikita Zaitsev left in the first period with a lower-body injury.

GETTING CLOSER

Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (lower body), who has missed 26 games, is increasing his skating level at practice and could be back in a few weeks. Tampa Bay center Brayden Point (upper body) is also practicing and might return by the end of December.

NUMBERS

Chabot has a career-high six-game point streak (nine points). … Senators right wing Drake Batherson had his six-game point streak (two goals, 10 assists) snapped, and center Josh Norris saw his run of a goal in three straight games end. … Tampa Bay, which had allowed five power-play goals over the previous three games, held Ottawa scoreless on two man-advantage chances. … The Lightning went 1 for 5 on the power play.

UP NEXT

Senators: Play on Saturday night at Philadelphia.

Lightning: Start a three-game trip Saturday night at Colorado.

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More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Mark Didtler, The Associated Press