Killorn has 2 goals, Lightning beat Canucks 4-1, move to 1st
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - The Tampa Bay Lightning entered the All-Star break on a positive note.
Alex Killorn had two goals, Valtteri Filppula added a goal and an assist, and the Lightning took over the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night.
"They've done everything we've asked," said Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper.
Brian Boyle also scored for the Lightning, who lead the idle New York Islanders by one point in the East. Ben Bishop stopped 27 shots in Tampa Bay's eighth straight home win.
"We're definitely comfortable at home," Lightning defenseman Jason Garrison said.
Tampa Bay kept the Canucks off the scoreboard on seven power plays, including a pair of 5-on-3s.
"Clearly, the penalty kill saved us," Cooper said. "Outstanding."
The Lightning were 0 for 5 with the man advantage.
Vancouver got 22 saves from Ryan Miller. Frank Corrado ruined Bishop's shutout bid at 8:09 of the third. Miller had his chance for a third consecutive shutout end late in the third period of Monday night's 2-1 win at Florida.
The Canucks completed a five-game trip at 3-2.
"The boys gave it everything they could," Miller said. "I'm pretty proud of the way they responded on this trip. We'll get some rest here, and hopefully that attitude and that willingness to compete and grind will be there when we get back."
Filppula opened the scoring with 6:28 left in the second after skating into the low slot from the left circle and redirecting Steven Stamkos' pass in the net.
After Killorn scored just 11 seconds into the third from the right circle, Boyle made it 3-0 at 4:16. Brett Connolly ended a 58-game assist drought and Brendan Morrow got his first point in 19 games with assists on Boyle's goal.
"We were in a good position there in the third," Miller said. "I'm disappointed not to get a save for the guys, keeping it close in the third. It's frustrating not to keep it closer."
Killorn added an empty-netter with 2:26 to play.
Bishop made a nice save on Radim Vrbata midway through the second.
Vancouver went without a shot for the opening 14:35 and finished the first period with four. The Canucks had just one shot during the third period of Monday's game with Florida.
Miller made saves on quality chances by Nikita Kucherov and Stamkos during the initial seven minutes of the first. He also stopped Ryan Callahan's wraparound 5 minutes into the second.
"The game was there for us to win," Vancouver center Henrik Sedin said. "I don't think they played their best game and we didn't play our best game, but we had enough chances on the power play to win on the power play. So that lost us the game."
NOTES: Stamkos entered on a streak of no assists in nine games. The Lightning captain scored six goals over the period. ... Bishop is 4-0 against Vancouver. ... Miller is 20-10 against the Lightning. ... Tampa Bay D Matt Carle will miss six to eight weeks with a torn muscle in his abdomen. He was hurt in Thursday's game against Edmonton. ... Vancouver RW Brad Richardson missed his second straight game due to a lower body injury.