Bolts blank Chicago for fifth straight win

With the start of the postseason a little more than a week away, the Lightning look like they already are playing playoff hockey.

Tampa Bay had everything stacked against it heading to United Center to face the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks, who are fighting just to get back into the postseason.

Despite mustering a season-low 15 shots on goal, Tampa Bay was picked up by goaltender Mike Smith, who stopped all 31 shots he faced to give the Lightning a 2-0 victory Sunday night, one day after playing in Minnesota. The victory was the fifth consecutive for Tampa Bay and ensured the Lightning of finishing no lower than fifth in the Eastern Conference standings.

Tampa Bay trails Pittsburgh by one point for fourth place, which carries home-ice advantage. Each team has three games remaining.

Vinny Lecavalier scored his 21st goal of the season before leaving with an eye injury in the second period, while Nate Thompson iced the game with an empty-net goal with 22 seconds.

For Smith, who has battled injuries and a stint in the minor leagues this season, it was a gratifying victory in picking up his first shutout of the season, first since March 30, 2010, and the 11th of his career.

"Every win is rewarding, but this was the defending Stanley Cup champions, so to beat a team like that, it's definitely a little bit more rewarding,'' Smith said. "But this is obviously a big win for our team.''

Tampa Bay played a solid road game, not opening up and staying structured while trying not to let a rested Blackhawks team skate freely through open spaces. With that strategy in mind, the Lightning escaped the first period with a lead on Lecavalier's goal. With Tampa Bay on the power play, Marty St. Louis sent a pass from the bottom of the right circle into the crease, where Lecavalier shoveled the puck past Corey Crawford 7:56 into the period.

In the second period, Lecavalier received a scare when he was raked across the face by Michael Frolik's stick in front of the Tampa Bay net at the 4:42 mark. Lecavalier stayed down on the ice and looked to be cut above both eyes and was bleeding out of his nose.

After initially heading to the bench, he was taken to the locker room and did not return the rest of the game. The injury required three stitches above his right eye and left Lecavalier with a minor vision issue. After the game he was wearing a bandage over the eye and will be evaluated again today.

With only 11 forwards dressed to start the game, the Lightning were forced to play the rest of the game with 10, and at times nine as Steve Downie played just two minutes in the third period.

"He wanted to go back in, but then he couldn't see and I think it's a scratch in there, and hopefully it's just a minor scratch,'' Lightning coach Guy Boucher said of Lecavalier. "He's been playing incredible the past two months, big goals, big plays at big moments, so yeah, we are a little concerned. Hopefully it gets a day to cool down and he'll be OK.''.

The third period had some close calls as Chicago pushed to try to tie the game, but Smith made 13 saves in the final period, including a stop on Marian Hossa from the slot with 40 seconds left.

"I can't say enough about Smitty tonight. He was poised in there, he kept our team poised and made big saves at big times,'' Thompson said.