NHL: Atlanta 2, Tampa Bay 0

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 31 (UPI) -- Ilya Kovalchuk scored two third-period goals Monsday, lifting the Atlanta Thrashers to a 2-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Kari Lehtonen made 36 saves to earn his fourth shutout of the season for the Thrashers.

Atlanta, which finished the road portion of its season with a 15-21-5 record, plays its final two games of the season at home against Florida Tuesday and Tampa Bay Saturday.

Mike Smith stopped 22 of 23 shots for the Lightning, who have lost five of their last seven games.

Tampa Bay plays its final three games of the season on the road -- in Carolina Tuesday, in Washington Thursday and in Atlanta Saturday.