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Stamkos scores twice, Lightning blank Blackhawks

Feb 28, 2015 - 5:34 AM Tampa, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - The Tampa Bay Lightning received two goals from Steven Stamkos and 28 saves from Ben Bishop to rout the Chicago Blackhawks by a 4-0 count at Amalie Arena.

Brian Boyle and Ryan Callahan also scored in support of Bishop's second shutout of the season and 10th of his career, while the Blackhawks struggled to produce offensively in their second game since star forward Patrick Kane fractured his clavicle.

"They kind of took it to us in the beginning," Bishop said. "Once we got warm, we kept it going."

Chicago was able to offset Kane's absence with an outstanding performance from Corey Crawford in Thursday's 3-0 triumph over Florida, but backup Scott Darling couldn't match that effort in this one. He finished with 25 saves.

"Bad game from start to finish. It seemed like we weren't very crisp with the puck," said Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp.

The Blackhawks did make a big move during the game, however, acquiring veteran defenseman Kimmo Timonen from Philadelphia in exchange for a pair of draft choices that included a 2015 second-rounder.

Timonen, who turns 40 on March 18, is close to returning from a blood-clot problem that has sidelined him the entire season.

After generating few scoring chances during a scoreless opening period, the Lightning struck twice in the second to give Bishop all the offense he needed.

Boyle put Tampa Bay ahead by one-timing a beautiful no-look, behind-the-net give from Jonathan Drouin over Darling's shoulder 8:27 into the second. Stamkos made it 2-0 with 2:07 left in the stanza on a successful redirection of Jason Garrison's blast from the point.

The Lightning prevented any hopes of a Blackhawks' comeback by dominating the third period, with Bishop needing to make just four saves and Tampa Bay converting a pair of power-play opportunities.

Callahan tipped a crisp pass from Valtteri Filppula into an opening with 7:37 elapsed in the final frame for the Lightning's third goal. Stamkos scored his 34th of the season with 2:45 left to play, ripping a well-placed attempt into the top right corner while using Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith as a screen.

Tampa Bay was unable to cash in on a four-minute power-play midway through the first period, as the Blackhawks were able to kill off a double-minor high- sticking call against Keith.

Game Notes

Stamkos has put up 11 goals in six assists in nine career meetings with Chicago .. The Lightning improved to 20-2-0 when Callahan scores a goal since acquiring the former New York Rangers captain in March of last season, and are now 25-4-1 when recording at least one power-play goal this season ... Tampa Bay has now won six of the past seven matchups in the series, though the Blackhawks did earn a 3-2 shootout decision over the Lightning in Chicago on Nov. 11.