Tampa Bay will continue to roll with Vasilevskiy in net for their third game to start the season. After a pedestrian 2023-24 campaign when he posted a 2.90 GAA and .900 SV% in 52 games (30-20-2), the former Vezina-trophy winner seems to have found his elite form early in the season, boasting a stellar 1.00 GAA and .958 SV% through two games (2-0-0). Tampa Bay enters action on Thursday as a -137 home favorite against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Andrei Vasilevskiy News
Tampa Bay will likely continue to roll with Vasilevskiy in net for their third game to start the season. After a pedestrian 2023-24 campaign when he posted a 2.90 GAA and .900 SV% in 52 games (30-20-2), the former Vezina-trophy winner seems to have found his elite form early in the season, boasting a stellar 1.00 GAA and .958 SV% through two games (2-0-0). Tampa Bay enters action on Thursday as a -137 home favorite against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Tampa Bay has only played one game so far this season due to a postponed contest last week and will return to Vasilevskiy, their game-one starter, on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. Vasilevskiy is coming off the worst season of his career, posting a 2.90 GAA and .900 SV% in 52 appearances in 2023-24 (30-20-2), but was stellar in his first contest this season, saving 20 of 21 shots (.952 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The Lightning enter Tuesday's action against the Canucks as -129 home favorites.
The Lightning will unsurprisingly turn to their franchise netminder for their season opener on Friday night. Vasilevskiy was uncharacteristically mediocre in 2023-24, though an early season back injury could be to blame. He posted a .900 SV%, a 2.90 GAA, and a 30-20-2 record across 52 starts. He'll be looking to regain his Vezina caliber form this season, but he draws a tough assignment on opening night. The Lightning enter action as +125 underdogs in Carolina.
The Lightning will of course turn to their franchise netminder in their must-win matchup against the Panthers on Monday. After dropping each of the first three games of the series, Vasilevskiy and the Lightning got on the board in Game 4, as Vasilevskiy stopped 22 of the 25 shots he faced and the Lightning cruised to a 6-3 victory. The bookmakers don't love Tampa's chances of staying alive on Monday, as they enter action as +150 underdogs.
Unsurprisingly, the Lightning have no desire to make any sort of change in goal despite being down 2-0 in the series, as they will once again roll with Vasilevskiy between the pipes. Vasilevskiy performed well in Games 1 and 2 despite coming out on the losing side in both instances, allowing just five goals on 64 shots (.922 SV%) across the two contests. The Lightning are actually slight favourites at home tonight despite the 2-0 series deficit, as they enter action at -115 on Thursday.
Unsurprisingly, the Lightning will turn right back to Vasilevskiy as they look to rebound in Game 2 of their series against the Panthers. The former Vezina Trophy winner was unfortunate to come out on the losing end of Game 1. He allowed just two goals on 27 shots in the 3-2 defeat. Vasilevskiy and the Lightning enter action tonight as slight underdogs at +135 as they hope to even the series before heading back home for Game 3.
Vasilevskiy was a workhorse after making his season debut on November 24th. It was statistically the worst season of his career, as his 2.90 GAA and .900 SV% were the worst marks of his first 10 seasons. Despite the underwhelming splits, Vasilevskiy still won 30 of 52 games, making it the seventh straight season he's won 30-plus games. He struggled in the postseason last year but is 65-42 with a 2.37 GAA and .921 in 110 career playoff appearances.
Tampa Bay will attempt to snap a two-game losing skid on Monday night with Vasilevskiy between the pipes. Vasilevskiy has allowed four or more goals in two of his last three (1-2-0), including four goals on 34 shots (.882 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-2 loss to the Washington Capitals. Tampa Bay enters action on Monday as a -158 home favourite against the Buffalo Sabres.
Tampa Bay will turn to Vasilevskiy for his second straight game in a favourable matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Vasilevskiy has allowed one goal in three of his last five outings (3-2-0), but struggled in his last contest, allowing five goals on 28 shots (.821 SV%) in a 5-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tampa Bay enters the action as a significant -332 home favourite.
On the front end of a back-to-back, Tampa Bay will roll with Vasilevskiy between the pipes for the fourth straight game. Vasilevskiy has allowed three or fewer goals in four of his last five (3-2-0), but it was not enough in his last outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Tampa Bay enters action on Wednesday as a +106 road underdog against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
On the front end of a back-to-back, Tampa Bay will roll with Vasilevskiy between the pipes for the fourth straight game. Vasilevskiy has allowed three or fewer goals in four of his last five (3-2-0), but it was not enough in his last outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Tampa Bay enters action on Wednesday as a +106 road underdog against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Tampa Bay will turn to Vasilevskiy between the pipes for the 13th time in the last 14 games. Vasilevskiy has been stellar lately, allowing only one goal in three of his last four outings (3-1-0), including saving 27 of 28 shots (.964 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday. Tampa Bay enters action as -184 home favourites against a Detroit Red Wings club coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers.
Vasilevskiy will make his 12th start in the last 13 games on Saturday when he hosts the Islanders in Tampa Bay. Despite missing a large chunk of the early season due to a back injury, the 29-year-old machine has still posted an impressive 27-16-2 record despite his mediocre .898 SV% and 2.90 GAA.
Vasilevskiy will occupy Tampa's crease for the 11th time in the last 12 games after the rare night off in the Lightning's previous game vs. Anaheim. The 29-year-old is up to an impressive 45 games played despite missing a large chunk of the season due to a back injury and has a 26-16-2 record, 2.94 GAA and .897 SV% to show for it. He will host the Boston Bruins on Wednesday, who are one win from clinching a playoff birth and have won four of their last six games.
Tampa Bay is riding a four-game winning streak and will return to Vasilevskiy in the crease for the ninth straight game in a favourable matchup against the San Jose Sharks where they are -375 road favourites. In his last outing, Vasilevskiy saved 24 of 27 shots in a 5-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. He has allowed three or more goals in seven of his last eight games.