88 Andrei Vasilevskiy G

Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Activated from IR

Vasilevskiy is expected to return to practice with his teammates immediately, and if all goes well, he could presumably return to action as soon as Thursday against Toronto. Another update on the Russian netminder's status should surface following Thursday's morning skate.

Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Ahead of schedule

It was suggested just a couple days ago by coach Jon Cooper that Vasilevskiy was still weeks away from returning, but it appears that he's made some significant strides of late. His return to the ice early next week could put him on track to return sometime in the middle of the month, though it will be worth monitoring his progress along the way.

Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Partakes in optional skate

Vasilevskiy isn't expected to return for a few weeks, but it's encouraging that the elite netminder is back on the ice in any capacity. The Bolts have been resilient even without Vasi, as they're currently riding a five-game winning streak with eight victories in the past 10 games to remain atop the league standings. Louis Domingue has received most of the starts with the traditional starter unavailable between the pipes.

Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Still weeks away

This most recent update likely puts Vasilevskiy's return date on the tail end of his initial 4-6 week timeline. Fortunately for the Lightning faithful, backup Louis Domingue has performed well in the Russian netminder's absence. With nine wins in his first 13 outings, the 24-year-old Vasilevskiy seemed poised to compete for the Vezina Trophy, but his extended absence could eliminate him from contention in the eyes of the award's voters.

Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Sidelined 4-6 weeks

When the team placed Vasilevskiy on injured reserve, it was a good indication he wasn't facing a short-term absence. Based on his announced timeline, the netminder won't return until mid-December at the earliest, though it's possible he won't be ready until the new year. Louis Domingue will shoulder the load with Vasilevskiy out of action while Edward Pasquale serves as the backup.