TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Evgeni Nabokov made 18 saves for second shutout this season and 54th overall in the NHL, John Tavares scored his 17th goal, and the New York Islanders beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 on Thursday night.

Nabokov made an in-close save on Victor Hedman in the second period, and Tavares had a power-play goal midway through the frame to help the Islanders improve to 4-1-2 over their last seven games.

Brad Boyes added an empty-net goal in the final minute of play.

Anders Lindback stopped 27 shots for Tampa Bay, which has lost eight of 10.

Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier didn’t play and is out indefinitely because of an undisclosed lower body injury.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

Click here for the complete boxscore.