Vasilevskiy gets first NHL shutout as Lightning blank Sabres

By Spectrum Sports Staff Florida

PUBLISHED 6:03 PM ET Mar. 03, 2015

Tampa Bay rookie Andrei Vasilevskiy made 28 saves in his first NHL shutout, and the Lightning beat the Buffalo Sabres 3-0 on Tuesday night.

Steven Stamkos opened the scoring late in the first period, snapping a wrist shot past former teammate Anders Lindback. Ryan Callahan and Victor Hedman added power-play goals 1:36 apart early in the second.

Lindback (2-9) made 32 saves in his first appearance for Buffalo since being acquired last month from Dallas. He was given the starting assignment one day after Michal Neuvirth was dealt to the New York Islanders for Chad Johnson in a swap of goalies.

Ben Bishop was a late scratch for the Lightning after he was struck in the midsection by a puck during the morning practice.

Vasilevskiy (5-3) faced only four shots in the second period from the Sabres, who have the fewest goals and the league's worst record.

Defenseman Braydon Coburn made his debut for Tampa Bay and was loudly cheered after his second-period fight with Buffalo forward Marcus Foligno. The 6-foot-5 veteran was acquired in a trade with Philadelphia on Monday.

NOTES: Stamkos has scored four goals in three games. ... Tampa Bay has won 13 of its past 15 home games. The Lightning are 24-6-1 there. ... The Lightning concluded the five-game season series against the Sabres with four consecutive victories. ... C Tyler Ennis started for the Sabres after missing two games due to a groin injury. ... Jerry D'Amigo, one of three forwards called up from the AHL earlier Tuesday by the Sabres, made his debut with the team.