The Tampa Bay Lightning are currently playing without their star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. According to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, Lightning coach Jon Cooper expects Vasilevskiy to return in late November after making good progress following his back surgery in September.
Vasilevskiy had surgery in late September to repair a lumbar disc herniation in his back. It was initially expected that he would miss the first two months of the season.
During Vasilevskiy’s absence, the Lightning have relied on Jonas Johansson and Matt Tomkins in goal. Johansson has played in nine games, recording a 5-1-3 record with a 2.87 goals-against average and .916 save percentage during that time.
Vasilevskiy has been an outstanding goaltender for the Lightning since joining the NHL in the 2014-15 season. He has compiled a 263-123-28 record and played a crucial role in Tampa Bay’s consecutive Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021. In 2019, Vasilevskiy won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender and was also named the playoff MVP during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Last season, Vasilevskiy had a 34-22-4 record with a 2.65 goals-against average, .915 save percentage, and four shutouts.
The Lightning currently hold a 5-3-3 record (13 points) and are in third place in the Atlantic Division.
