Lightning 2, Coyotes 1
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Lightning continued their hot streak Tuesday night, getting a shorthanded penalty-shot goal from center Cedric Paquette on the way to a 2-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes at Amalie Arena.
Tampa Bay (34-22-4) has now won four straight -- its second-longest win streak of the season -- heading into a four-game road trip. Backup Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy took a shutout into the third period Tuesday as starter Ben Bishop got the night off.
Paquette's penalty shot came with just 4.7 seconds left in the second period, part of a key four-minute penalty kill for Tampa Bay after a double minor penalty was called.
Arizona (27-27-6) pulled within a goal in the final period, getting a goal from left wing Jordan Martinook -- his eighth -- with 15:54 left, as he redirected a low shot from defenseman Michael Stone that caromed off Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman and into the net.
Vasilevskiy held on for his second win in a week, having been in net for Thursday's 6-5 shootout win over Winnipeg. He stopped 29 Arizona shots, while Coyotes goalie Louis Domingue had 34 saves in the losing effort.
The Lightning had given up short-handed goals in three consecutive games -- still winning them all -- but got one on their side at a key moment Tuesday.
With 4.7 seconds left in the second period, center Cedric Paquette scored a short-handed goal on a penalty shot.
Tampa Bay was assessed the double minor with 3:02 left when left winger Ondrej Palat was called for high-sticking, putting the Lightning's 1-0 lead in danger. However, Paquette stole the puck at center ice and skated ahead for a breakaway before he was pulled down and awarded the penalty shot. He fired a shot past Coyotes goalie Louis Domingue for his fourth goal of the season.
The Lightning had a 28-18 lead on shots entering the third, making things easier for Vasilevskiy, who got the nod after Bishop worked both ends of a back-to-back over the weekend, winning both games.
Tampa Bay jumped out to a 1-0 lead at 12:38 of the first period when center Steven Stamkos scored his team-best 26th goal of the season. Stamkos poked in a rebound past Domingue off a shot from forward Alex Killorn, who picked up his 20th assist.
NOTES: The Lightning played a second consecutive game without RW Nikita Kucherov, the team's leader in points scored, who is sidelined with an upper-body injury. He could return for Friday's game at the New Jersey Devils. D Matt Taormina, called up from AHL Syracuse on Monday, was a healthy scratch. ... The Coyotes had two healthy scratches, D Nicklas Grossmann and D Jarred Tinordi. ... After Tuesday's home game, the Lightning are on the road for their next four, including another back-to-back on Sunday and Monday with games at the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs, the latter on trade-deadline day. ... The Coyotes are two games into a five-game road trip on the East Coast, continuing Thursday at the Florida Panthers. ... Lightning C Valtteri Filppula played in his 700th career game Tuesday, while C Steven Stamkos played in his 552nd career game, matching Brad Richards for the fourth most in team history.