TAMPA, Fla. — Ondrej Palat had two goals, Anders Lindback came off the bench to make 25 saves, and the Tampa Bay Lightning ended Toronto’s playoff hopes by beating the Maple Leafs 3-0 on Tuesday night.
Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop left with 14:17 left in the first due to an undisclosed upper-body injury. He was hurt while lunging to his left and landing on his side while attempting to glove the puck. Lindback replaced Bishop, who is 37-14-7 this season for the playoff-bound Lightning.
Victor Hedman had an empty-net goal late in the third for the Lightning, who trail Montreal by two points for second place in the Atlantic Division. Bishop turned aside three shots before departing.
James Reimer stopped 31 shots for the Maple Leafs, who have lost 10 of 12.
Palat put the Lightning up 1-0 when he beat Reimer from the top of the left circle 9:19 into the second.
Tampa Bay went up 2-0 during a power play when Palat, positioned near the post, scored after Steven Stamkos sent the puck off the boards behind the net with 4:15 left in the second.
Lindback made a nifty glove save on Jake Gardiner’s shot late in the second.
