Andrei Vasilevskiy is keeping up his form-returning streak for intense lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning have triumphed in ten of their last thirteen games, including a significant shootout victory on February 13 over the Boston Bruins. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy turned in a great effort in this crucial victory, saving 36 of 38 shots for a.947 save percentage. He was also flawless in overtime and the shootout.
These are the kinds of performances that we have grown accustomed to seeing in the past several years. Vasilevskiy now has the same appearance as the team. He has demonstrated that these evenings are typical and not isolated incidents.
Vasilevskiy’s Successful Ascent
Yes, Vasilevskiy played a fantastic game against the Bruins. A couple nights prior, on February 10 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, he even looked fantastic. Wonderful as well. However, those are just a few games.
Here’s a comparison of his last 11 games with his season total so far. He has played eleven games since his January 6 loss to the Bruins. He just got even for that loss, so it makes sense.
Vasilevskiy had a 10-9-0 record, a.895 save percentage, and a 3.01 goals-against average (GAA) in his first 18 games of play. This comprises five contests in which he gave up one goal or fewer. In six games, he also gave up four or more goals. Yes, on a particular evening when
forfeited four goals was a good night—he made 53 stops against the Edmonton Oilers on December 14—but this was only one of four games—including the Bruins loss—that by no means qualify as strong. That night, he let up six goals. Vasilevskiy struggled even though he was having his moments.
The switch turned then. There was consistency discovered.
The Lightning defeated the Los Angeles Kings in overtime the next game, on January 9. Vasilevskiy allowed zero goals beyond regulation while holding the Kings to only two goals. It was an omen of things to come.
With the victory over the Kings included in his past 11 games, Vasilevskiy has a 9-2-0 record, a.917 save percentage, and a 2.35 GAA. He hasn’t let up four or more goals. That makes more sense. He’s not going to start a Vezina conversation, and even if these were his season stats, I doubt he would be in it. Even though he would finish fourth in GAA, six goalies have a save percentage greater than.917 for the whole season, and four have a save percentage greater than.920 (Adin Hill leads the league in this category right now with a percentage of.933).
Vasilevskiy is what the Lightning need; he doesn’t have to win the Vezina. They need him to be himself, and he’s starting to resemble the well-known big-game goalie.
How does he appear in recent major games? Glad someone inquired
Vasilevskiy is what the Lightning need; he doesn’t have to win the Vezina. They need him to be himself, and he’s starting to resemble the well-known big-game goalie.
How does he appear in recent major games? I’m glad someone inquired.
His statistics over the last 11 games against teams that are currently in the postseason are as follows:
Surprisingly, Vasilevskiy’s stats have increased since he played in Boston and New York. His save percentage from January 6 to the Rangers game on February 7 was.907. Not every one of these games was won by the Lightning. But Vasilevskiy is demonstrating that he is doing more than just piling up victories over inferior opposition.
Implications For The Lightning
Yes, Vasilevskiy and the Lightning have progressed together. Having a standout goalie helps a lot. Its timing is likewise impeccable. He must continue to perform at this caliber for them.Vasilevskiy had a save percentage of.920 up until shortly after Valentine’s Day in the previous season, which is roughly the same point in the current campaign, and the Lightning had a 26-13-1 record following his starts. Vasilevskiy’s save % dropped to.897 in the next 15 games, as the Lightning finished 5-7-0. Neither he nor the Lightning were able to fully recover. Vasilevskiy’s performance, with a save percentage of.875 in their 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs opening-round loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, was utterly out of character. The earlier in the season version of himself would have had an impact.
On the plus side, it appears that things have turned around from the previous season. After a sluggish start, the Lightning and their starting goalie are quickly picking up steam. Two more months remain. When the playoffs begin in mid-April, everything may be different. These eleven games thus far may portend future developments. The hockey community has been alerted, if that is the case.
