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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Set for Game 7 start
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Vasilevskiy is expected to patrol the home crease in Game 7 against Montreal on Sunday, per Sports TV host Julie Stewart-Binks.
Vasilevskiy is coming off a 30-save shutout in Friday's 1-0 overtime win over the Canadiens in Game 6. He has surrendered 14 goals on 147 shots en route to a 3-3 record this postseason. The winner of Sunday's matchup between Tampa Bay and Montreal will visit Buffalo on Wednesday in Game 1 of the second round of the playoffs.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Stands on head to force Game 7
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Vasilevskiy made 30 saves Friday in the Lightning's 1-0 overtime win over the Canadiens in Game 6 of their first-round series.
The Vezina Trophy finalist simply refused to let Tampa Bay's season end, producing his eighth career playoff shutout and first of this postseason in a dazzling performance. Through six games in the series against the Habs -- four of which have gone to overtime -- Vasilevskiy sports a 2.20 GAA and .905 save percentage, and he may need to come up big again in Game 7 on Sunday if the Bolts are going to get through to the second round.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Tending twine in Game 6
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Vasilevskiy will guard the road goal versus the Canadiens in Game 6 on Friday, Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley reports.
Vasilevskiy will look to extend the series after stopping 21 of 24 shots in a Game 5 loss. Vasilevskiy has allowed at least three goals in each of his three defeats against the Canadiens in the first round, while he's limited Montreal to two goals in each of the Lightning's wins. If Vasilevskiy can get the win in Friday's matchup, Game 7 will be Sunday in Tampa Bay.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Too many shaky playoff performances
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Vasilevskiy made 21 saves Wednesday in a 3-2 loss to Montreal in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round.
Vasilevskiy had another shaky postseason performance, this time on the day he was named a Vezina Trophy finalist. He's a six-time nominee for the award and one-time winner (2018-19). However, Vasilevskiy has struggled in the postseason since 2023. He's now 6-15 with a 3.20 GAA and .881 save percentage in his last 21 playoff starts. Still, he will likely return to the crease in a must-win Game 6 matchup in Montreal on Friday.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Slated to start Wednesday
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Vasilevskiy is expected to start at home against Montreal in Game 5 on Wednesday, per Eduardo A. Encina of Tampa Bay Times.
Vasilevskiy stopped 16 of 18 shots in a 3-2 win over Montreal on Sunday. He's 2-2 with a 2.58 GAA and an .882 save percentage in four playoff outings this year. Vasilevskiy is gearing up for his 125th career postseason appearance. He's 69-52 with a 2.45 GAA and a .917 save percentage in his playoff career.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Nabs Game 4 win
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Vasilevskiy stopped 16 of 18 shots in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Canadiens in Game 4.
Vasilevskiy gave up both goals in a span of 3:23 during the middle parts of the second period. The Lightning didn't back down, answering with the last three goals of the game while Vasilevskiy did his part protecting the net. He's now 2-2 in this series, with this being the first game decided in regulation. The 31-year-old has allowed 11 goals on 93 shots (.882 save percentage), but he's given the Lightning a chance to pull ahead in the series for the first time. It's all but guaranteed Vasilevskiy will tend the twine again in Wednesday's Game 5 in Tampa.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Looking to even series in Montreal
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Vasilevskiy will be between the road pipes in Game 4 versus the Canadiens on Sunday, per Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley.
Vasilevskiy and his team went down 2-1 in the series in Friday's Game 3 after Lane Hutson fired the puck from the point past the Russian netminder in the 3-2 overtime win for Montreal. Vasilevskiy has conceded nine goals on 75 shots (.880 save percentage) so far in this first-round series, so if the Lightning have any chance of turning the tide, Vasilevskiy will have to be at the top of his game against a potent Canadiens offense.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Falls to Habs in OT again
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Vasilevskiy made 26 saves Friday during the Lightning's 3-2 overtime loss to the Canadiens in Game 3 of their first-round series.
All three games have gone to extra time, and Vasilevskiy has come out on the wrong end twice. Lane Hutson scored the winner a little over two minutes into overtime with a blast from above the faceoff circle. Vasilevskiy has a 2.76 GAA and .880 save percentage to begin Tampa Bay's playoff run, and he'll look for a better result in Game 4 on Sunday.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Guarding goal Friday
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Vasilevskiy will protect the road goal in Game 3 versus the Canadiens, Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley reports.
Vasilevskiy has split the first two games of the series, allowing six goals on 46 shots. Vasilevskiy could be the difference maker if the series remains closely contested, as he is far more experienced than Montreal netminder Jakub Dobes. However, Vasilevskiy will have to contend with what's likely to be a raucous atmosphere in Montreal over the next two contests.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Game 2 win sweet redemption
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Vasilevskiy made 25 saves in a 3-2 overtime win against Montreal in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference First Round on Tuesday.
It was sweet redemption for the Big Cat, who had some struggles in a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 1 on Sunday. In fact, Vasilevskiy has struggled a lot in the playoffs since the team's back-to-back Cup wins in 2020 and 2021. According to Michael Amato of Sportsnet.ca, the star netminder went into Tuesday's game with a 4-13 record and .878 save percentage since the start of the 2023 playoffs. Vasilevskiy and the Bolts head to Montreal for Game 3 on Friday. Barring injury or a mercy pull, the Big Cat will be in Tampa's blue paint until the team is eliminated. Or wins.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Set to start in Game 2
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Vasilevskiy will guard the home goal versus the Canadiens in Game 2 on Tuesday, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports.
Vasilevskiy stopped 15 of 19 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Canadiens in Game 1 on Sunday. That wasn't his best work -- he had gone eight games without allowing more than three goals to close out the regular season. This series figures to continue to be a close one, but Vasilevskiy should maintain the lion's share of the workload between the pipes for the Lightning.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Some struggles in Game 1 OT loss
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Vasilevskiy made 15 saves in a 4-3 overtime loss to Montreal in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round on Sunday.
Vasilevskiy allowed three power-play goals to Juraj Slafkovsky. The winner, which came off Slafkovsky's stick, found space glove-side inside the post. Vasilevskiy's angle was off on the shot; that's not something that happens often. He was outplayed by opposing goalie Jakub Dobes on Sunday. Vasilevskiy has struggled the last three postseasons, and the Bolts have seen Round 1 losses each of those years (once to the Maple Leafs, twice to the Panthers). The netminder had an exceptional regular season, but he still needs to exorcise his recent playoff demons.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Between pipes Sunday
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Vasilevskiy will patrol the home crease against Montreal on Sunday in Game 1, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Vasilevskiy has won four of his last six outings, allowing only 13 goals on 147 shots. He posted a 39-15-4 record with two shutouts, a 2.31 GAA and a .911 save percentage across 58 appearances during the 2025-26 regular season.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Not starting Wednesday
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Vasilevskiy will not start Wednesday's home game versus the Rangers as previously expected, Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley reports.
Vasilevskiy appeared to be the starter after he was the first goalie off the ice at Wednesday's morning skate, but the Lightning have seemingly changed their plans. With Jonas Johansson (undisclosed) unavailable, Vasilevskiy will be Brandon Halverson's backup in Tampa Bay's regular-season finale.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Starting regular-season finale
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Vasilevskiy was the first goalie off during Wednesday's morning skate, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports, indicating that he'll draw the home start against the Rangers.
Vasilevskiy has been effective over six starts in April, going 4-2-0 with a 2.19 GAA and .912 save percentage. He'll get a final tune-up during Wednesday's regular-season finale, and he's slated to operate as the Lightning's No. 1 netminder once the postseason gets underway.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Rings up 39th win of season
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Vasilevskiy made 27 saves on 30 shots in a 4-3 overtime win over Detroit on Monday.
The Big Cat deserves a rest Wednesday against the Rangers to prep for the postseason, but Jonas Johansson (undisclosed) sat out Monday's game. That meant the Lightning had to roll with their Emergency Back Up Goalie (EBUG) in the number two spot. Brandon Halverson, who is 24-11-6 with six shutouts, 2.39 GAA and .906 save percentage with AHL Syracuse this season could get the call-up for Wednesday. The win was Vasilevskiy's 39th of the season. It's the third time in his career that he's hit exactly 39 wins and fourth time that he's delivered at least that many wins.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: First off Monday
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Vasilevskiy was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate, Diandra Loux of The Hockey News reports, indicating he will patrol the home crease against Detroit on Monday.
Vasilevskiy is coming off a 20-save performance in Saturday's 2-1 win over Boston. He has a 38-15-4 record this campaign with two shutouts, a 2.30 GAA and a .911 save percentage through 57 appearances. Detroit is tied for 20th in the league with 2.94 goals per game this season.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Reclaims NHL win lead
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Vasilevskiy made 19 saves Saturday in a 2-1 win over Boston.
This game was as tight as a playoff contest. Vasilevskiy and Boston's Jeremy Swayman were both superb in the contest. The Tampa Bay netminder got back in the win column after two losses, moving back into sole possession of the NHL lead for wins (38). Vasilevskiy is 38-15-4 with two shutouts, a 2.30 GAA and a .913 save percentage in 57 appearances this season.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Starting in Boston
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Vasilevskiy will guard the road cage in Boston on Saturday, per Russ Macias of The Hockey News.
Vasilevskiy is having another outstanding season, posting a 37-15-4 record with a 2.32 GAA and a .911 save percentage over 56 starts in 2025-26. The Bruins are 12th in NHL scoring, generating 3.29 goals per game.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Losing end of playoff-style game
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Vasilevskiy made 19 saves in a 2-1 loss to Montreal on Thursday.
It was a playoff-style game, and it could be a preview of a Round One match-up come the postseason. Vasilevskiy is no longer in sole possession of the win title for NHL goalies -- Karel Vejmelka of Utah sits in a tie with Vasy with 37 wins. He may get a rest before season's end so he's ready for the playoffs, but the win title probably isn't his biggest worry. Vasilevskiy's overall stats sit no worse than third overall in any big category.
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