Vasilevskiy’s 28 saves lead Lightning to 4-1 victory over Leafs
By The Associated Press on April 3, 2024.
TORONTO (AP) – Andrei Vasilevskiy made 28 saves as the Tampa Bay Lightning topped Toronto 4-1 on Wednesday despite Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews adding to his NHL lead with the sniper’s 63rd goal of the season. Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Brayden Point and Nicholas Paul scored for Tampa. Nikita Kucherov, who entered the night tied with Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon for the league lead with 127 points, added three assists. Brandon Hagel also set up two goals for the Lightning, who moved within four points of the Leafs for third in the Atlantic Division. RANGERS 4, DEVILS 3 NEW YORK (AP) – Chris Kreider scored a power-play goal late in the third period and the New York Rangers rallied to beat New Jersey Devils in a game that started with a 10-player brawl. Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere each had a goal and an assist, and Kaapo Kakko also scored for the NHL-leading Rangers. Igor Shesterkin finished with 17 saves as New York won for the sixth time in seven games and 11th in its last 14. Nico Hishier, Ondrej Palat and Brendan Smith scored in the second period for the Devils, and Kaapo Kahkonen stopped 37 shots. New Jersey has lost three straight and remained six points behind Washington for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. Trailing 3-2 after 40 minutes, the Rangers tied it on Kakko’s 13th goal of the season at 5:32 of the third period. Kreider then put the Rangers back ahead as he deflected Adam Fox’s shot from the point past Kahkonen with 4:57 remaining for his 36th. 10-9
