ARIZONA COYOTES

Lightning topple the Coyotes in first of four-game road trip

Mar 18, 2019, 7:59 PM | Updated: 8:10 pm

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) deflects a shot as Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden...

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) deflects a shot as Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) looks for the rebound during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 18, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

(AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

TAMPA, Fla. — Steven Stamkos scored his 36th goal of the season and the Tampa Bay Lightning clinched the Presidents’ Trophy with a 4-1 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Monday night.

The Lightning, who have 116 points, will have home-ice advantage throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Stamkos became the franchise leader in goals with his 384th.

Victor Hedman added his 10th goal of the season and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28 shots. Anthony Cirelli scored his fifth short-handed goal of the season while Yanni Gourde notched his 20th goal of the season.

Clayton Keller scored for Arizona, which remains one point ahead of Minnesota for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

Darcy Kuemper finished with 20 saves.

Stamkos’ record-breaking goal was scored at 6:54 of the first period as Stamkos, battling in front of the Arizona net, got his stick on Ryan McDonagh’s shot and deflected the puck past Kuemper.

Arizona opened the scoring when Richard Panik knocked down a cross-ice pass attempt by Jan Rutta and fed Christian Dvorak who dropped a pass for Keller, who one-timed a shot past Vasilevskiy 5:03 into the game.

Stamkos tied the game 1:51 later.

After a scoreless second period, Hedman put Tampa Bay in front with a backhand pass across the crease down low from Cirelli 44 seconds into the third period. Cirelli added his fifth short-handed goal of the season with 44.8 seconds left while Gourde added an empty-net goal with 8.6 seconds left.

NOTES: Arizona RW Clayton Keller has four goals in four career games against Tampa Bay. … Vasilevskiy leads the league with 20 victories since Jan. 1, Kuemper is second with 19.

UP NEXT

Coyotes: At Florida Panthers on Thursday

Arizona Coyotes

Goaltender Connor Ingram...

Associated Press

Utah’s NHL team may use placeholder name for 1st season after move from Arizona

The NHL team moving from Arizona to Salt Lake City will be known as Utah, at least initially, until a long-term name is determined.

3 days ago

Tucson Roadrunners...

Alex Weiner

Mullett Arena? Stay in Tucson? Plan for the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate Roadrunners remains unclear

The path forward for the Tucson Roadrunners, the AHL affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes, remains unclear under owner Alex Meruelo.

5 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Goodbye, Arizona Coyotes

Arizona Sports' Jarrett Carlen pens a good-bye parody song to the now former Arizona Coyotes.

5 days ago

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks during a press conference at Hyatt Regency Phoenix...

Kevin Zimmerman

Gary Bettman, Alex Meruelo blame Tempe voters for Coyotes’ relocation

Gary Bettman and Alex Meruelo are still stuck on a failed Tempe vote on an Arizona Coyotes arena project rather than any missteps.

5 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and owner Alex Meruelo address sale, relocation of Arizona Coyotes

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and owner Alex Meruelo held a press conference Friday in Downtown Phoenix to address the sale and future of the Arizona Coyotes.

5 days ago

Gary Bettman and Alex Mereulo speaking with Media in a press conference....

Bailey Leasure

‘We shall return:’ Gary Bettman remains committed to Arizona despite relocation to Utah

Gary Bettman remains supportive of NHL hockey in Arizona and Alex Meruelo despite the hockey team moving to Utah.

5 days ago

Lightning topple the Coyotes in first of four-game road trip