UNDATED (AP) — The Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders have advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, but the Vegas Golden Knights failed to close out their series.
Andrei Vasilevskiy wrapped up a series with a Game 6 shutout for the second straight time, stopping 29 shots in the Lightning’s 4-0 victory over the Panthers. Vasilevskiy also shut out the Dallas Stars last year to win the Stanley Cup.
Steven Stamkos, Pat Maroon and Brayden Point scored against rookie Spencer Knight before Alex Killorn added an empty-netter with 1:42 left.
Knight finished with 20 saves for Florida, which hasn’t won a playoff series since the 1996 Eastern Conference finals.
The Islanders earned a 5-3 win over the Penguins in Game 6, their first series-clinching victory at Nassau Coliseum since 1993.
Brock Nelson had two goals and an assist for the Isles, who took the last three games after falling behind 2-1 in the series. Nelson and Ryan Pulock scored 13 seconds apart to put the Islanders ahead, 4-3 in the second period.
Ilya Sorokin turned back 34 shots in his fourth win of the series.
Anthony Beauvillier added a goal and two assists for the Islanders.
Next up for New York is the Boston Bruins.
Cam Talbot had his second shutout of the series and the Wild staved off elimination for the second straight game with a 3-0 victory over Vegas. Kevin Fiala had a goal and an assist in the third period to break open a scoreless game.
Ryan Hartman scored first and Nick Bjugstad tacked on the last goal in support of Talbot, who made 23 stops.
The series moves back to Las Vegas for the decisive Game 7 on Friday, with the winner taking on the Avalanche.
