Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is the likely starting goaltender for Wednesday's road game against the New York Rangers. Backup Jonas Johansson was the lone goalie on the ice for the morning skate on Wednesday, meaning Vasilevskiy will likely start against the Rangers while Johansson could very well be the club's starting netminder for Thursday's back-to-back versus the New York Islanders. The decorated veteran missed time early following back surgery and hasn't been at his best since returning, posting a 2.85 goals-against average and an .899 save percentage in 26 games, both of which are easily career-worst figures. The Lightning have won three straight entering Wednesday's contest.
Andrei Vasilevskiy Bounces Back In Style On Monday
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy bagged his first shutout of the season Monday when the team rolled past Dallas 4-0. The former Vezina winner gave up six goals against the Stars on Saturday in Dallas in an 8-1 loss but completely turned things around on home ice with 25 saves. It's been a struggle so far for Vasilevskiy, whose season debut was delayed by a back problem. Tampa's No. 1 has featured in five games, posting a 2-3-0 record with a 3.03 goals-against average and a .887 save percentage. However, Monday's shutout should do wonders for his confidence.
Andrei Vasilevskiy Could Return To Action On Friday
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (back) is on the cusp of making his season debut, and his first appearance could come on Friday after the team waived Matt Tomkins. The move will allow Tampa Bay to activate Vasilevskiy from long-term Injured Reserve ahead of Friday's matchup versus Carolina. It has already been reported that Vasilevskiy will have a "good chance" to play at some point during the team's upcoming three-game road trip, which begins on Friday and also features a pair of stops early next week. Vasilevskiy's return means Jonas Johansson will have to settle into a backup role, and he likely won't be seeing a lot of action.
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (back) has a "really good chance" to play sometime during the team's upcoming three-game road trip, according to head coach Jon Cooper. Vasilevskiy hasn't played yet this season after undergoing back surgery late in the offseason but is closing in on his 8-10 week prognosis. He will immediately reclaim the starting job in Tampa upon his return, pushing Jonas Johansson to the backup role. Those with Johansson in fantasy leagues may have already missed their selling window, but it isn't a bad idea to send out some offers now and see if anything can be recouped for the soon-to-be backup.
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (back) rejoined practice on Monday. It was his first practice session since Vasilevskiy underwent back surgery on Sept. 28. He's yet to play in 2023-24, but Vasilevskiy's season debut isn't far away anymore, with the former Vezina Trophy winner expected to return after Thanksgiving. The Lightning started well with Jonas Johansson covering for Vasilevskiy, but the team has hit a rough patch recently, and Vasilevskiy's return would be a very welcome sight. The 29-year-old has produced at least 30 wins in each of the past six seasons, leading the league in the category five times.
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy could be available to the team before the end of the month, according to head coach Jon Cooper. "I don't know, I'll be disappointed if it is early December," Cooper said Monday. "Hopefully it's a little earlier. We were kind of shooting for that Thanksgiving time." It was reported that the two-time Stanley Cup champion was doing well in his recovery from Sept. 28 surgery to address a lumbar disk herniation and he has been skating with the team in full equipment since late October. Jonas Johansson has seen a heavy workload in Vasilevskiy's absence, starting nine of the club's first 11 games while posting a 2.87 goals-against average and .916 save percentage, going 5-1-3 in the process.
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is 'on track' in his recovery from a microdiscectomy to address a lumbar herniation in his lower back three weeks ago. At the time of the procedure, Vasilevskiy was given an 8-10 week timeline for a return, knocking him out for the first two months of the season, at least. "The schedule hasn't changed," Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said on Thursday. "Everything is going to plan," Cooper added. The 2021 Conn Smythe winner is coming off a season in which he turned in a 2.65 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage across 60 starts, figures slightly below his career marks but well above the league average nonetheless. Jonas Johansson continues to be the goaltender to roster for Tampa Bay in fantasy leagues while Vasilevskiy continues his rehab.
Andrei Vasilevskiy Undergoes Back Surgery, Out At Least Two Months
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy underwent successful back surgery on Thursday and is expected to make a full recovery in 8-10 weeks. Of course, this is a major blow to a Lightning club that is seemingly losing its footing in an improving Atlantic Division. The club's 92 points last season were its fewest in a non-COVID, non-lockout season since the 2011-12 campaign while the youthful Senators, Red Wings, and Sabres continue to make strides underneath them. Last season, the six-time All-Star posted a 2.65 goals-against average and .915 save percentage while going 34-22-4 across 60 appearances. Next in line between the pipes for the Lightning is Jonas Johansson who owns a career 3.32 GAA and .887 Sv% across just 35 NHL appearances.
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has missed the start of training camp because he's dealing with minor injuries. Head coach Jon Cooper considers him day-to-day and doesn't think the former Vezina Trophy winner will be out long-term. Vasilevskiy also had injury issues late last term, so understandably, the team wants to have him 100 percent healthy before throwing him on the ice. Last season, the Russian netminder registered his worst goals-against average (2.65) and save percentage (.915) since becoming a full-time starter in 2016-17, but he still had a strong 34-22-4 record with four shutouts.
Andrei Vasilevskiy Strong Again In An Elimination Game
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy produced his best performance of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs just when the team needed it as the Bolts managed to stay alive Thursday in Game 5 against Toronto with a 4-2 victory. Vasilevskiy stopped 28 of 30 pucks, improving to 5-1 in elimination games for his career. The Tampa No. 1 has registered a .944 in games where his team has faced elimination from championship contention. Vasilevskiy will be in another pressure situation Saturday on home ice. With a victory in Game 6, Vasilevskiy would become the winningest European-trained goalie in the NHL playoffs history, having tied Dominik Hasek with his 65th win on Thursday.
Andrei Vasilevskiy The Confirmed Starter Against Rangers
Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy performed well in his most recent start, saving all 38 shots he faced. This outstanding effort contributed to his third consecutive win as he kept the New York Islanders from scoring. With a record of 34-20-4, a goals-against average of 2.57, and a save percentage of .918. The Russian native has consistently ranked in the top five NHL netminders for wins for six consecutive years. Next, he will face the New York Rangers, who ended their two-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over Washington in their last contest.
Andrei Vasilevskiy Collects Shutout Against Islanders
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped all 38 shots on goal to earn the shutout in Saturday's 5-0 victory against the Islanders. It is the fourth shutout of the season for Vasilevskiy and the 32nd of his NHL career, as the former Vezina Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy winner is playing at his best level heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Vasilevskiy and the Lightning will play against the Maple Leafs in the first round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season, and the 28-year-old goaltender is ready for the series as he has posted a .918 save percentage and 2.57 goals against average to go along with a record of 34-20-4 through 58 appearances.
Andrei Vasilevskiy Posts His Third Shutout Versus Carolina
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy picked up his third shutout of the season Tuesday with a 31-save effort in a 4-0 win over the Hurricanes. The star goalie entered Tuesday's matchup with a three-game losing streak but got back to winning ways in very impressive fashion, keeping the league's second-best team from scoring. Vasilevskiy's play has been shaky this month, but he still sits on a good 32-20-4 record. Teams have been getting 2.64 goals per game against him, and Vasilevskiy's save percentage stands at .915.
Andrei Vasilevskiy Looks To End A Three-Game Skid Tuesday
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy will be between the sticks for Tuesday's clash with the Flyers and is hoping to put a stop to a three-game losing run. The former Vezina Trophy winner has struggled for form lately, and the team's lackluster play has had a negative impact on his numbers as well. Vasilevskiy has given up 14 goals during his current losing streak. Meeting a Flyers team that averages only 2.62 goals per game gives Vasilevskiy a very good opportunity to get back to winning ways. He has an outstanding 11-3-0 career record in the matchup. For this season, Vasilevskiy has put together a 28-16-3 record with a 2.68 goals-against average, a .915 save percentage and two shutouts.
Andrei Vasilevskiy Records A 45-Save Shutout Against Detroit
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy played a perfect game against the Red Wings on Saturday, tying a franchise record with a 45-save regular-season shutout in a 3-0 victory. The Big Cat now boasts 30 career shutouts, and Marc-Andre Fleury (45) and Connor Hellebuyck (31) are the only goalies in the league with more shutouts since Vasilevskiy made his debut in 2014-15. Tampa's No.1 has been a bit inconsistent with his work lately, but he is still ranked second in the league with 28 wins and has produced a solid 2.55 goals-against average with a .919 save percentage and two shutouts.
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy made 30 saves and recorded his first shutout of the season in Thursday's 5-0 victory against the Avalanche. The shutout was Vasilevskiy's first in the regular-season since Nov. 26, 2021, and he came out on top in the first meeting between the two teams since the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals in June. Vasilevskiy is having another productive season with a 2.56 goals against average and .918 save percentage to go along with 24 wins in 38 appearances. The 28-year-old has been the most consistent goaltender in the NHL over the past six seasons and remains a strong option across all formats moving forward.
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy pushed away 35 of 37 shots in Friday's crucial 3-2 win over Colorado in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. He improved to 20-2 in games following a defeat across the last three postseasons. Vasilevskiy has recorded a 1.82 goals-against average in those contests with an outstanding .932 save percentage. The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner had a rough start to the 2022 Final by giving up 11 goals in the first two games, but he's bounced back superbly to register a .938 save percentage in the last three contests.
Andrei Vasilevskiy Outstanding Again In Series-Clincher
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy produced another outstanding performance in a series-clinching game on Saturday, stopping 20 of 21 shots against the Rangers in a 2-1 win. He was beaten only on the power play in the third period. Vasilevskiy is now 8-0 in his last eight series-clinchers with an amazing 0.25 goals-against average and a .991 save percentage. The 27-year-old star goalie has saved 219 of 221 shots faced in those games. His work during this year's Eastern Conference Final wasn't bad either as Vasilevskiy pushed aside 106 of 111 shots to register a .955 save percentage after opening the series with back-to-back losses. The 2021 Conn Smythe Trophy winner is now 12-5 for this postseason, boasting a 2.27 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage.
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy beat the Rangers 3-1 with a 24-save effort on Thursday, becoming only the second active netminder with at least 60 playoff wins. He joined Marc-Andre Fleury, who sits on 92 wins, and Vasilevskiy is now the 17th goalie all-time to get 60 postseason wins. The Russian star reached the milestone with 97 games, which marks the fifth-fewest appearances in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to reach 60 career wins, He's picked up 11 of his victories in 16 starts this year and will enter Saturday's potential series-clincher with a three-game winning streak.
Andrei Vasilevskiy Puts Great Home Record To Big Test
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has been strong on home ice throughout the season and will need to keep up his form if the team is going to battle back from a 2-0 deficit in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Rangers. The former Vezina Trophy winner has gone 24-9-4 this season at the Amalie Arena, allowing only 2.19 goals per game with a .924 save percentage and three shutouts. He produced a 49-save shutout against Florida in his most recent home outing and sits on a 4-1 home record for the playoffs. Vasilevskiy has won four home starts in a row ahead of Sunday's Game 3 against the Rangers, who have a poor 2-5 road record in the playoffs.
