Lightning pull away late in third, keep Flyers winless

TAMPA -- Ilya Mikheyev and Pontus Holmberg each had a goal and an assist for the Tampa Bay Lightning in a 4-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers at Benchmark International Arena on Monday.

Brayden Point and Brandon Hagel scored, and Nikita Kucherov had two assists for the Lightning (2-1-0), who have won two straight after losing their season opener 5-1 to the New York Rangers on Thursday. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 13 saves.

"Game 1 ... we're not the only team that laid an egg in Game 1. There are a lot of teams in the League that had some tough outings," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "What I really like is that our next two have been pretty darn good."

Dan Vladar made 32 saves and Tyson Foerster scored for the Flyers (0-2-2), who opened the season with four straight losses for the first time since 2014-15 (also 0-2-2).

"We've got to be better and it starts with me and (Joseph Woll)," Vladar said. "Hopefully we're going to turn this thing around because, obviously, this is not us. This is not fun. Obviously, our game is not at the level it should be."

Mikheyev pushed Tampa Bay's lead to 3-1 at 17:00 of the third period, tucking in a wraparound on the backhand after taking a pass from Holmberg.

It was his first goal with Tampa Bay after signing a four-year, $15.4 million contract ($3.85 million average annual value) as a free agent on July 1.

Hagel scored an empty-net goal at 19:53 for the 4-1 final.

Point gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead at 16:05 of the first period, scoring on a redirection from below the hash marks after John Carlson sent the puck to the net.

"We didn't have a ton of real good looks, but I think those shots in traffic are good chances," Point said. "It was a big emphasis after that first game to win puck battles. I think the past two games we have done a good job with that."

Point had 18 goals last season after scoring 139 in the previous three seasons combined.

"I think part of it with him is staying healthy, and it's a little bit of a confidence thing with him," Cooper said. "I don't think he was used to scoring 18 goals or whatever it was last year, but he really dedicated himself this summer into getting back to what makes him tick. He's winning his battles. He's skating. ‘Pointer’ has been one of those guys when he gets one, he usually gets a bunch. Hopefully that's what happens."

Holmberg extended the Lightning's lead 17 seconds into the second period, making it 2-0 with a shot from the right circle on the rush that beat Vladar high on the glove side.

Foerster cut it to 2-1 at 7:22. He sent the puck to the net and had it deflect off of Charle-Edouard D'Astous' stick past Vasilevskiy.

"We're not getting the results," Flyers forward Porter Martone said. "This whole team, we expect a lot more. You can't be getting outshot like that. Give them credit, they're a good team, but you've got to come to battle. We have the skill in here, we have the people, it's just doing it. We've just got to be connected. It's easy to say, but I'm a person where actions speak louder than words."

NOTES: Vasilevskiy won his 372nd NHL game (372-179-39) to tie Andy Moog for 20th all time. ... Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen was a late scratch. He left the Flyers’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday in the third period with an undisclosed injury.