Andrei Vasilevskiy (28 saves) helps Lightning blank Kings

Field Level Media|published: Thu 30th January, 22:27 2025

NHL: Los Angeles Kings at Tampa Bay Lightning

Jan 30, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Trevor Moore (12) and Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Nick Paul (20) skate for the puck as Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) defends during the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Brandon Hagel scored twice in a three-point outing, Andrei Vasilevskiy notched his third shutout this season and the Tampa Bay Lightning blanked the visiting Los Angeles Kings 3-0 on Thursday night.

In the second match of their season-long five-game homestand, the Lightning got goals from Hagel in the first and the third period plus Anthony Cirelli's empty-net tally to win for the second time in six games (2-4-0).

Vasilevskiy stopped 28 shots and added an assist in his 21st win this season. It was the 37th career shutout for the 11th-year veteran.

After being named Team Sweden's captain for next month's 4 Nations Face-Off earlier Thursday, Lightning captain Victor Hedman played in his 1,100th game, becoming the fourth Swedish defenseman to hit the milestone.

David Rittich made 30 saves as Los Angeles lost 3-0 for the second straight game. The Kings are 2-7-1 in their last 10 games and have lost nine straight at Tampa.

After losing to Los Angeles 2-1 in an offensive-starved match on Jan. 4, Hagel blazed past defenseman Jordan Spence with an inside move and beat Riddich for the game's first goal 4:45 into the opening period. Vasilevskiy was credited with the secondary assist.

Neither team had a power play in the first as Tampa Bay held an 11-8 advantage in shots.

The visitors appeared to pull even at 1-1 right as the game's first power play ended when Jacob Moverare popped out of the penalty box and fed Quinton Byfield for a breakaway goal at 7:44 of the second.

However, the Lightning successfully challenged that Moverare was offside and the goal was nullified.

Rittich kept the score 1-0 at 10:31 of the second with a diving glove save on Brayden Point at the near post on a 3-on-2 rush.

In the third, Vasilevskiy made a key save on Anze Kopitar's breakaway four minutes in, and Hagel put the win away at 15:39 with a marker after Rittich stopped Nikita Kucherov's breakaway.

With an assist from Hagel, Cirelli tapped a short goal into an empty net for the final tally at 18:43.

--Field Level Media

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