Andrei Vasilevskiy made 18 saves, posting his second shutout in three games, for the Tampa Bay Lightning in a 1-0 victory over the New York Islanders in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Semifinals at Amalie Arena in Tampa. Vasilevskiy has a shutout in four straight series clinching games, an NHL record.
The Lightning will defend its crown starting Monday against the upstart Montreal Canadiens.
Yanni Gourde provided the only scoring with a shorthanded goal at 1:49 of the second period when he one-timed Anthony Cirelli’s pass in the slot by Semyon Varlamov.
SHORTY ALERT!!!!!!!!!!
🚨 YANNI GOURDE SH
1-0 #GoBolts
🎥 @NHLonNBCSports pic.twitter.com/8VaIkI8WWo— BobbyLotsOfNumbers (@TheReplayGuy) June 26, 2021
It was the first time in NHL history a Game 7 ended with the final score 1-0 and the only goal scored was a shorty.
Varlamov made 30 stops for the Islanders, who were trying to reach the Cup Final for the first time since 1984, when their dynasty was ended by Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers. Instead, they were eliminated by the Bolts in the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a second straight season.
More postgame coverage at Raw Charge and Lighthouse Hockey
2021 Stanley Cup Final schedule
Game 1: Monday, June 28, 8 p.m., Canadiens at Lightning, NBCSN
Game 2: Wednesday, June 30, 8 p.m., Canadiens at Lightning, NBCSN
Game 3: Friday, July 2, 8 p.m., Lightning at Canadiens. NBC
Game 4: Monday, July 5, 8 p.m., Lightning at Canadiens, NBC
Game 5: Wednesday, July 7, 8 p.m., Canadiens at Lightning, NBC (if necessary)
Game 6: Friday, July 9, 8 p.m., Lightning at Canadiens, NBC (if necessary)
Game 7: Sunday, July 11, 7 p.m., Canadiens at Lightning, NBC (if necessary)
New signings
Trent Frederic signed a two-year contract extension to remain with the Boston Bruins. The 23-yeard-old Frederic put up five points (4G/1A) in 42 games this season. (Stanley Cup of Chowder).
The Los Angeles Kings re-signed Blake Lizotte to a one-year contract worth $800K. Lizotte produced 10 points in 41 games for the Kings this season. (LA Times)
LBC Poll
Who will win the Stanley Cup?
| Lightning | 36 |
| Canadiens | 11 |