Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Teammates don't help when needed
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Vasilevskiy made 23 saves in a 4-2 loss to the Penguins on Thursday. He allowed three goals.
This wasn't on Vasy -- his mates couldn't score, which is an extension of the team's overall offensive struggles lately. After pouring in the goals in Vasilevskiy's debut, the Bolts have scored exactly four goals over the past three games, two of which the star was in the blue paint. He'll settle in soon -- he's already looking like the Vasy of old. But the Bolts need to help out here.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Set to face Penguins
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Vasilevskiy is expected to start at home against Pittsburgh on Thursday, per Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site.
Vasilevskiy wasn't able to make his season debut until last Friday due to a back injury, but he's quickly resumed his duties as Tampa Bay's No. 1 goaltender. This will be his third start in the Lightning's last four contests. He's 1-1-0 with a 2.52 GAA and an .891 save percentage after those first two outings, though it's worth noting those matches were on the road and against two strong offenses in Carolina and Colorado. The Penguins shouldn't be taken lightly either, but they're a touch below those other two squads offensively, ranking 17th this year with 3.10 goals per game.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Takes loss Monday
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Vasilevskiy allowed three goals on 23 shots in Monday's 4-1 loss to the Avalanche. The fourth goal was an empty-netter.
Vasilevskiy didn't get anywhere near the goal support he received in his season debut Friday versus the Hurricanes, when the Lightning won 8-2. In Monday's contest, Tampa Bay racked up 40 shots on net but solved Alexandar Georgiev only once. With five goals allowed on 47 shots over his first two outings, Vasilevskiy is still likely shaking off some rust after a two-month absence to begin the season. He'll get a night off Tuesday in Arizona, but it's safe to assume he'll make his next start Thursday versus the Penguins.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Starting in Colorado
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Vasilevskiy will guard the road net Monday against Colorado, per Ryan Boulding of NHL.com.
Vasilevskiy is coming off a 22-save performance in Friday's 8-2 win over Carolina. He looked solid in his season debut after sitting out the first 20 games following back surgery. The Avalanche rank third in the league this campaign with 3.75 goals per game.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Earns victory in season debut
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Vasilevskiy allowed two goals on 24 shots in Friday's 8-2 in against the Hurricanes.
Vasilevskiy looked solid in his first game action of the 2023-24 campaign after recovering from offseason back surgery. He fell behind 1-0 after Stefan Noesen opened the scoring in the first period, but the Lightning surged ahead afterward. Tampa Bay's power play erupted for three goals in the first 5:54 of the second period, staking the Big Cat to the lead, and he and the Lightning never looked back.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Starting Friday
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Vasilevskiy (back) will make his season debut in Carolina on Friday, Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida reports.
This is huge news for the Lightning and Vasilevskiy's fantasy managers as the 29-year-old has been out all season after undergoing microdiscectomy surgery midway through training camp. Vasilevskiy, who is widely regarded as a top-three NHL goaltender, was 34-22-4 with a 2.65 GAA and .915 save percentage in 2022-23. Look for Vasilevskiy to garner 75 percent of the starts the rest of the way, although the Lightning may ease him in over the next few weeks. The Hurricanes are tied for 11th in NHL scoring, averaging 3.39 goals per game.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Might return during road trip
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Vasilevskiy (back) won't play Wednesday versus Winnipeg, but he might return during Tampa Bay's upcoming three-game road trip, which will start Friday in Carolina, per Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com.
Vasilevskiy underwent microdiscectomy surgery in late September and consequently hasn't played this campaign. Once he returns, he'll assume the No. 1 spot and push Jonas Johansson into the backup role. Vasilevskiy had a 34-22-4 record, 2.65 GAA and .915 save percentage in 60 contests last season. Johansson has struggled with a 3.44 GAA and an .893 save percentage through 16 outings this year, so Vasilevskiy's return should be a huge boost for the Lightning.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Returns to practice
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Vasilevskiy practiced Monday for the first time since undergoing back surgery, NHL.com reports.
Vasilevskiy will be reevaluated in approximately two weeks, at which time a more definite target date for his season debut will likely be established. The 29-year-old netminder, who underwent microdiscectomy surgery in late September to address a lumbar disc herniation he sustained while weightlifting, went 34-22-4 while posting a 2.65 GAA and a .915 save percentage through 60 appearances last season.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Ahead of schedule
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Vasilevskiy (back) could make his season debut around U.S. Thanksgiving, reports NHL.com.
Vasy started skating in full equipment in late October, and his rehabilitation is going well. "He is making great progress. He'd rather be doing more than he can right now," said Lightning coach Jon Cooper. "The timeline has still been the same, but ... I guess that Thanksgiving time to Dec. 1 we should be hoping that he is back." Vasilevskiy had surgery Sept. 28, and the initial timeline for recovery was eight-to-10 weeks.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Makes on-ice appearance for rehab
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Vasilevskiy (back) is on schedule in his rehabilitation, according to Lightning coach Jon Cooper.
"He's on schedule and looks great, his spirits are great" Cooper told a group of media last Thursday. "I can't put a time table on it, but a few more weeks, right around Thanksgiving time. That's what we're hoping, so nothing's changed there." Vasilevskiy was on the ice Sunday for a light workout as part of his rehab schedule. Cooper said Vasilevskiy likely won't require an AHL rehab stint in Syracuse, although that's always an option.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Shifts to LTIR
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Vasilevskiy (back) was moved to long-term injured reserve Tuesday, according to CapFriendly.
Vasilevskiy is expected to miss the first two months of the 2023-24 season after undergoing back surgery in late September. The Lightning will go into the upcoming campaign with the goaltending duo of Jonas Johansson and Matt Tomkins.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Moved to IR
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Vasilevskiy (back) was placed on injured reserve Sunday, per CapFriendly.
Vasilevskiy underwent back surgery in late September, so this move doesn't come as a surprise. He's expected to return in late November or early December. In his absence, Jonas Johansson should see most of the work in net.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Out 8-10 weeks after back surgery
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Vasilevskiy will miss at least 8-10 weeks after undergoing back surgery Thursday, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports.
Vasilevskiy had successful microdiscectomy surgery due to a lumbar disc herniation. This is a major blow to the Lightning as Vasilevskiy is considered a top-three goaltender in the NHL. Vasilevskiy was 34-22-4 with a 2.65 GAA and a .915 save percentage last year, his sixth straight season with 30-plus wins. Look for Jonas Johansson to take over as Tampa Bay's No. 1 netminder for now but don't be surprised if the Lightning look elsewhere for another goaltender.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Practices Tuesday
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Vasilevskiy (undisclosed) participated in practice Tuesday, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times.
The second part of the session included an intrasquad scrimmage, so Vasilevskiy appears to be fine after taking it slow to begin training camp. He posted a 34-22-4 record last season with a 2.65 GAA and a .915 save percentage in 60 appearances.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Taking it slow to start camp
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The Lightning won't rush Vasilevskiy to start camp, as he's dealing with minor injuries, per Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site.
Vasilevskiy struggled with injuries late in the 2022-23 campaign, so it stands to reason that Tampa would allow its star netminder to ease into training camp. The 29-year-old went 34-22-4 last season with a .915 save percentage, his lowest mark since 2015.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Let down by own body this season
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Vasilevskiy is considering training changes after acknowledging his body began to give out on him midway through the regular season, reports NHL.com.
"The first 30-35 games I felt as usual," Vasilevskiy said Tuesday, "but then ... I don't know, me and my body weren't on the same page, I guess. All of those small injuries came out at the same time, so I just ... my mistake was that I didn't really pay attention to recovery, so I kept pushing myself to the limit. As I said after Game 35, my body kind of let me down. To be honest, I didn't feel that great after that." Vasilevskiy won 34 games this season with a 2.65 GAA and .915 save percentage in 60 games. His GAA was his highest, and his save percentage his lowest since he became a full-time starter in 2017-18. Vasilevskiy will be taking an extended time off the ice this offseason to aid his recovery, perhaps as long as seven weeks. And the Lightning will be looking at changing his regular-season training schedule to ensure adequate recovery, so he can return to his elite form.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: 20 saves in OT loss
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Vasilevskiy made 20 saves in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs in Game 6 on Saturday. The Leafs won the series 4-2.
Vasilevskiy was beaten cleanly on an absolute rocket by Auston Matthews in the second, and he had no chance on the overtime winner by John Tavares, which ricocheted in off Darren Raddysh's skate. There will be much debate this offseason after a middling performance from the former Vezina winner, especially with the Bolts otherwise outplaying the Leafs for most of the series. Vasilevskiy finished this postseason with a 2-4-0 record, 3.56 GAA and .875 save percentage.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Starting Game 6
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Vasilevskiy will guard the home goal in Saturday's Game 6 versus the Maple Leafs, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.
Vasilevskiy kept the Lightning's season alive with a 28-save win Thursday, and he'll look to do the same on home ice Saturday. The 28-year-old has posted a mediocre 3.90 GAA and an .870 save percentage through five playoff contests.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Much improved in Game 5 win
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Vasilevskiy made 28 saves in a 4-2 win over Toronto on Thursday in Game 5.
Vasilevskiy had been average through the first four games, but came to play Thursday. And that's exactly what Tampa Bay needs if they are to advance to the next round. It was Vasilevskiy's 65th career playoff win, tying him with Dominik Hasek for the 12th-most in NHL history. Tampa will look to extend the series Saturday night when they return home for Game 6.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Starting elimination game
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Vasilevskiy will guard the road goal in Game 5 versus the Maple Leafs on Thursday, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.
Vasilevskiy has had a rough postseason so far, going 1-3 with a 4.33 GAA and an .856 save percentage. The Lightning haven't found themselves facing elimination a whole lot over recent years, but they'll need Vasilevskiy to quickly shake off his slump to force a Game 6, which would be Saturday if the Bolts win.
