NHL ROUNDUP Monday’s other game

Thrashers 2, Lightning 0

TAMPA, Fla. — Ilya Kovalchuk scored two third-period goals and Kari Lehtonen stopped 36 shots as Atlanta defeated Tampa Bay. Kovalchuk tied his career-high in goals with 52, matching his total for the 2005-06 season. He has 16 points (11 goals, five assists) in 15 games during March, and has eight goals in the past seven games against Tampa Bay. Kovalchuk scored with 5:06 left in the game. Bobby Holik sent a cross-ice pass to a charging Kovalchuk, who put it past out of position goalie Mike Smith. Kovalchuk scored into an empty net with 58 seconds remaining and Lehtonen picked up his fourth shutout of the season. Smith, who made his first start in three games due to a sprained left knee, had 23 saves on 24 shots.

Associated Press