Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Poor showing in Monday's loss
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Vasilevskiy stopped 10 of 14 shots before being removed in the second period of Monday's 5-2 loss to the Maple Leafs. He was replaced by Jonas Johansson.
Vasilevskiy has delivered back-to-back subpar showings, as he was coming off a defeat in Ottawa where he gave up five goals on 28 shots. These two losses have destroyed his overall numbers, and even though the Russian netminder was effective early on, he now sits at a 3-2-0 record with a 3.15 GAA and an .878 save percentage. Small-sample size applies here, but his GAA and save percentage would be career-worst marks for the 30-year-old.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Slated to start Monday
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Vasilevskiy was the first goalie off Monday, Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida reports, indicating that he'll draw the start on the road against Toronto.
Vasilevskiy wasn't particularly dominant Saturday against Ottawa, allowing five goals on 28 shots en route to his first loss of the season. However, he's still been relatively effective early in the season, posting a 3-1-0 record, 2.52 GAA and .901 save percentage over his first four starts, and he'll have a chance to bounce back Monday.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Tough night in Ottawa
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Vasilevskiy made 23 saves in a 5-4 loss to Ottawa on Saturday.
It was a tight match, but special teams proved to be the difference. Ottawa went 2-for-5 on the power play, while Tampa Bay was 0-for-3 and allowed a shorthanded goal. The five goals allowed equaled the total that Vasilevskiy had let in over his first three outings. Tough night.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: In goal Saturday
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Vasilevskiy will be between the pipes in Ottawa on Saturday, TSN 1200 Ottawa reports.
Vasilevskiy is aiming for his fourth straight win to start the season. He has given up only five goals on 73 shots (.932 save percentage) and looks to have regained his form after a tough 2023-24 campaign in which he underwent back surgery during training camp and missed the first 20 games of the season. He played in 52 of the last 62 regular-season games, but was less than stellar, going 30-20-2 with a 2.90 GAA and a .900 save percentage. The Senators have found the back of the net 13 times in four games this season.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Strong start to season continues
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Vasilevskiy made 22 saves in a 4-3 win over the Golden Knights on Thursday.
Vasilevskiy's strong start to the season continues. He made several sharp saves to keep the game within reach and when the score was tied. So far, Vasilevskiy is 3-0-0 with a 1.67 GAA and .932 save percentage in three starts.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Set to start Thursday
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Vasilevskiy was the first goalie to leave the ice Thursday, Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida reports, indicating he'll be between the pipes at home versus Vegas.
Vasilevskiy is riding a two-game winning streak to open the season in which he has posted a 1.00 GAA and .958 save percentage. Given the 30-year-old backstop preference for playing as often as possible, don't be surprised to see him featuring in upward of 60 games this year, though a back-to-back against Toronto and New Jersey on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, should see Jonas Johansson make his 2024-25 season debut.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Sharp in Tuesday's win
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Vasilevskiy made 26 saves in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Canucks.
He lost his shutout bid early in the third period on a Conor Garland power-play tally, but otherwise Vasilevskiy was sharp once again. He's allowed exactly one goal in each of his first two starts this season with a .958 save percentage, and he appears to be in Vezina form already after back surgery a couple Septembers ago led to an erratic 2023-24 campaign.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: First goalie off Tuesday
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Vasilevskiy was the first goalie to leave the ice Tuesday, Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida reports, indicating he'll be in goal at home versus Vancouver.
Vasilevskiy was solid in the season opener, stopping 20 of 21 shots in a road victory over the Hurricanes. The Bolts will go back to the 30-year-old backstop in their home opener as they look to stop a Canucks' offense that is converting at 3.50 goals per game to open the year. Looking ahead, Vasilevskiy likely will take each of the next two games before splitting a back-to-back against the Maple Leafs and Devils on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, with Jonas Johansson.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Gives up one goal Friday
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Vasilevskiy stopped 20 of 21 shots in Friday's 4-1 win over the Hurricanes.
Vasilevskiy conceded the first goal of the game to Jordan Staal but was excellent the rest of the way as the Lightning cruised to a comfortable victory thanks to Nikita Kucherov's natural hat trick. The 30-year-old netminder has reached the 30-win mark in seven seasons in a row, and while he had a down year in 2023-24 by some other metrics, he started this campaign on the right foot. He should be back between the posts when Tampa Bay takes on Vancouver on Tuesday.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Receiving starting nod
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Vasilevskiy will be in goal on the road versus the Hurricanes on Friday, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
As if there was any doubt, Vasilevskiy will be in goal for the Lightning's first game of the season. The 30-year-old netminder reached the 30-win mark for the seventh year in a row last season, but he also posted a 2.90 GAA and a .900 save percentage in 52 regular-season games, which represent the worst ratios of his career.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Saturday's game postponed
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Vasilevskiy and the Lightning won't play at home against the Hurricanes on Saturday after the game was postponed due to the effects of Hurricane Milton.
Although Saturday's game has been called off, the Lightning are still scheduled to begin the regular season on the road against Carolina on Friday, and Vasilevskiy seems likely to draw the start in the crease. Over 52 regular-season appearances last year, the 30-year-old posted a 30-20-2 record, 2.90 GAA and .900 save percentage.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Preseason game canceled
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Vasilevskiy and the Lightning won't face the Predators on Monday after their preseason matchup was canceled ahead of Hurricane Milton.
The Lightning and Predators' game was originally set to be played Sept. 27 but was rescheduled on account of Hurricane Helene. Vasilevskiy will turn his focus to Friday's Opening Night clash with the Hurricanes, as he looks to extend his run of consecutive 30-win seasons to eight straight years.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Allows one in loss
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Vasilevskiy made 15 saves on 16 shots in Friday's 2-1 overtime loss in preseason action versus Carolina.
Vasilevskiy appears ready to go ahead of the upcoming campaign -- the Russian netminder has stopped 36 of 39 shots in two exhibition contests. The Big Cat appears to be in store for another large workload this season since Tampa Bay does not have a well-established backup. The 30-year-old posted a .900 save percentage and 2.90 GAA in 2023-24, both career worsts for the two-time Stanley Cup winner.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: In goal Friday
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Vasilevskiy was the first goalie off Friday, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports, indicating he'll start in goal in the team's preseason road matchup against Carolina.
Vasilevskiy also drew the start during Wednesday's home exhibition matchup against the Panthers and turned aside 21 of 23 shots in an overtime loss. The 30-year-old enters the regular season as one of the top fantasy options at goaltender after he posted a 30-20-2 record, 2.90 GAA and .900 save percentage over 52 regular-season appearances last year.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Falls to Florida in OT
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Vasilevskiy turned aside 21 shots in Wednesday's 2-1 preseason OT loss to the Panthers.
The veteran netminder was beaten through the five-hole by 20-year-old prospect Sandis Vilmanis on a quick shot from the slot just 15 seconds into the extra frame, but Vasilevskiy was generally sharp in his first preseason action. He's won at least 30 games in seven straight seasons for Tampa Bay, and there's little reason to think Vasilevskiy's streak will get snapped in 2024-25.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Tending twine Wednesday
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Vasilevsky was the first goalie off Wednesday, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports, indicating he'll start in goal in the team's preseason home matchup against Florida.
Matt Tomkins started in Tampa Bay's preseason opener, while Jonas Johansson has been between the pipes during the team's last three matchups. However, Vasilevsky will make his first preseason start during Wednesday's exhibition game. Heading into the 2024-25 regular season, Vasilevsky is seven wins away from reaching 300 in his career.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Nearing milestone in wins
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Vasilevskiy enters this season seven wins from reaching 300 in his career.
Only 39 goalies in NHL history have hit that milestone. Vasilevskiy, who just turned 30, has already had an impressive career. He has two Stanley Cups, one Vezina Trophy, one Conn Smythe, two First All-Star Team nods and five All-Star honors overall. Vasilevskiy's resume is about to get a whole lot longer.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Stuck with loss in Game 5
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Vasilevskiy allowed four goals on 37 shots in Monday's 6-1 loss to the Panthers in Game 5. The last two goals were empty-netters.
Vasilevskiy couldn't hold back the relentless Panthers offense, taking his fourth loss in five playoff games. The 29-year-old gave up 16 goals on 156 shots, good for an .897 save percentage, during the postseason. Vasilevskiy remains entrenched as the Lightning's No. 1 goalie heading in 2024-25, though he'll be looking to rebound from the statistically worst season of his career -- he had a 30-20-2 record, a 2.90 GAA and a .900 save percentage in 52 regular-season outings in 2023-24.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Tending twine Monday
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Vasilevskiy will get the starting nod for Monday's Game 5 road tilt with the Panthers, Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida reports.
Vasilevskiy allowed three goals on 25 shots in Saturday's Game 4 win to avoid being swept. He's registered an .899 save percentage through four games this series. Dating back to the regular season, he's dropped six of his last eight games while posting an .891 save percentage. Vasilevskiy hasn't won two straight games since March 27 and 30.
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Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Nabs first win of series
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Vasilevskiy made 22 saves Saturday during a 6-3 win over the Panthers in Game 4 of the Lightning's first-round series.
Tampa Bay's offense finally got rolling against Sergei Bobrovsky, making Vasilevskiy's job much easier, and after his team grabbed a 3-0 lead in the first period, he made sure Florida would never draw level. The star netminder hasn't played poorly overall but will still take a 3.01 GAA and .899 save percentage into Game 5 on Monday, as the Bolts try to avoid elimination again.
