Bishop sets Lightning wins record in shutout against Devils
Ben Bishop stopped 23 shots to set Tampa Bay's single-season record with 31 victories as the Lightning beat the New Jersey Devils 3-0 on Saturday night.
Bishop (31-11-6) broke the mark held by Nikolai Khabibulin, which was set in 2002-03. It was Bishop's fifth shutout this season.
Michael Kostka had a goal and an assist for Tampa Bay, which has won two in a row following a five-game losing streak (0-3-2). B.J Crombeen and Nate Thompson had the other goals for the Lightning.
Martin Brodeur made 29 saves for the Devils, who were coming off a 5-3 loss Friday night at Florida. Brodeur had beaten Tampa Bay twice earlier this season, allowing just one goal overall.
Bishop turned aside four shots by Michael Ryder during the first two periods, and gloved a shot from the top of the left circle by Adam Henrique with 6 1/2 minutes to go in the third.
Brodeur made a nifty glove save on Steven Stamkos' shot 7 minutes into the second.
After J.T. Brown had his penalty shot stopped by Brodeur at 11:19, Crombeen, positioned in the slot, redirected Kostka's shot past the New Jersey goalie for a 1-0 lead 1:07 later.
Kostka made it 2-0 when he was left alone just outside the crease and put a back-hander past Brodeur with 3:02 left in the second.
Valtteri Filppula assisted on both of the Lightning's second-period goals, and has six assists and seven points during a four-game point streak.
Thompson scored at 16:41 of the third.
The Devils had a goal by Jon Merrill disallowed at 5:01 of the first because of incidental goalie contact.
New Jersey's Jaromir Jagr had his five-game point streak - three goals, six points - end.
NOTES: Tampa Bay is 0 for 3 on penalty shots this season. ... New Jersey C Ryan Carter didn't play due to an upper-body injury. ... Crombeen had been a healthy scratch the previous four games and six of the last seven.
