Detroit – The Red Wings’ surge up the standings hit a roadblock Saturday named Andrei Vasilevskiy.
The Tampa Bay goalie played up to this usual All-World status Saturday leading the Lightning past the Red Wings 3-0.
Vasilevskiy made 45 saves (the Wings outshot Tampa 45-18), was absolutely brilliant during stretches, and slowed down the red-hot Red Wings (28-22-8).
The Wings have won seven of their last nine games (7-2-0), as they head to Ottawa for consecutive games Monday and Tuesday.
Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov and Alex Killorn (empty net) scored for Tampa (37-17-4).
The Wings weren’t able to convert on four-power play opportunities, while killing both Tampa attempts.
Kucherov’s goal, his 22nd, was particularly crushing. After Vasilevskiy was sensational for most of the second period, including a Wings’ power play late in the period, Kucherov threw a puck on net that trickled through goaltender Ville Husso with only seven seconds remaining, giving Tampa a 2-0 lead.
BOX SCORE: Lightning 3, Red Wings 0
Kucherov also ignited the first Tampa goal, feeding a streaking Point down the middle of the ice, with Point finishing the breakaway with his 35th goal at 9:04 of the first period.
The Wings lost Michael Rasmussen in the first period with a lower-body injury. Rasmussen took a Zach Bogosian slap shot flush in the left leg, apparently near the knee, and struggled to skate off the ice and directly into the locker room.
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan