Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporter
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is predicted to omit the primary two months of the habitual season nearest having again surgical procedure Thursday.
Lightning basic supervisor Julien BriseBois introduced Vasilevskiy, a five-time NHL All-Big name and the 2019 Vezina Trophy winner, underwent a a success microdiscectomy Thursday morning to fix a lumbar disc herniation.
BriseBois mentioned Vasilevskiy knowledgeable the crew in August that he was once having a again factor however was once feeling higher nearest having an injection. It wasn’t till the Lightning’s first apply when Vasilevskiy began feeling discomfort.
Vasilevskiy’s absence is an important dissipate to the Lightning, who’re aiming for a 7th immediately postseason look in an Jap Convention soil that might turn out much more difficult taking into account groups just like the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins simply neglected out at the playoffs past others such because the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators impaired the offseason to strengthen their rosters.
The Lightning have been eradicated in a six-game first-round sequence endmost yr through the Toronto Maple Leafs. Previous to that, that they had reached the time 3 Stanley Cup finals, successful consecutive titles in 2020 and 2021 earlier than shedding to the Colorado Avalanche in 2022.
Vasilevskiy was once some of the biggest causes for that good fortune. At a generation when many groups are moving towards goaltender tandems to navigate an 82-game season, Vasilevskiy was once some of the few netminders who might be relied on to build greater than 60 begins along with enjoying each little of a playoff push.
Vasilevskiy, 29, was once considered one of seven goalies who began greater than 60 video games endmost season and completed with a 34-22-4 report along with a 2.65 goals-against reasonable and a .915 save proportion.
BriseBois informed journalists that Vasilevskiy’s absence method the Lightning will proceed with the goalies they have got on roster: Jonas Johansson and Matt Tomkins.
Johansson, who signed a two-year assurance with the Lightning this offseason, has turn out to be a journeyman alternative who has additionally been impaired as a 3rd choice over his stints with the Sabres, Florida Panthers and Avalanche. He spent lots of the 2022-23 season enjoying with the Avs’ AHL associate.
With Vasilevskiy sidelined, Johansson is essentially the most skilled goaltender on Tampa Bay’s lively roster, with 35 occupation video games.
Tomkins, 29, who represented Canada on the 2022 Iciness Olympics, has spent the time two years enjoying in Sweden. He hasn’t ever performed within the NHL, signing a two-year offer with the Lightning this time offseason.
Ahead of he left to play games in Sweden, Tomkins performed within the AHL and ECHL nearest spending 4 seasons at Ohio Situation, having up to now been a seventh-round draft pick out through the Chicago Blackhawks in 2012.
