The Tampa Bay Lightning have officially placed goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy on injured reserve, marking a significant development for the team. This decision comes after Vasilevskiy last played on December 2 against the New York Islanders. He will miss at least the upcoming games against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens.
details of Andrei Vasilevskiy’s Injured Reserve Status
Vasilevskiy is currently sidelined due to an undisclosed injury, which has not been elaborated on by the team. His last appearance resulted in a loss, where he allowed two goals. Following this game, he was listed as day-to-day, impacting the team’s performance in subsequent matches.
Impact on the Team
The Lightning faced defeats in their last two games against both the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Islanders while Vasilevskiy was unavailable. As he is placed on injured reserve effective immediately, he will miss crucial matchups including:
- Toronto Maple Leafs on December 4
- Montreal Canadiens on December 5
Vasilevskiy may potentially return to action by December 7, when the Lightning take on the New Jersey Devils.
Current Season Performance
The 31-year-old goalie had been on a winning streak, securing victories in six consecutive starts prior to his injury. His current record for the season stands at 11 wins, 6 losses, and 2 overtime losses. He boasts a goals-against average (GAA) of 2.31 and a save percentage (SV%) of .917 over 19 games played this season.
Earlier in the season, Vasilevskiy recorded a standout performance, achieving a 20-save shutout against the Philadelphia Flyers on November 24. Although his early season numbers are not as impressive as his previous season averages (2.18 GAA and .921 SV% over 63 games), he remains a pivotal player for the Lightning.
Team Standing
As of now, Tampa Bay holds a record of 16 wins, 10 losses, and 2 overtime losses. They are currently positioned just above the Boston Bruins in the Atlantic Division standings.
With Vasilevskiy on the mend, the Lightning will look to backup goalie Jonas Johansson, who is expected to make his third consecutive start against Toronto. The impact of Vasilevskiy’s absence will be closely monitored as the team navigates this critical phase of the season.
