Andrei Vasilevskiy added another line to his growing resume Saturday night, and this one came with the Tampa Bay Lightning’s second game of the season.
The Lightning goalie reached his 600th career game, and with that milestone now official, he owns the record for the most wins through that span. The NHL highlighted the achievement after the game, noting that Vasilevskiy has more wins through 600 games played than any other goaltender in league history.
The night also gave Vasilevskiy a solid rebound performance. He turned aside 20 of 21 shots on goal and was named the game’s first star. The record was already in the books once he hit the milestone, but he did it while looking sharp in net.
That kind of pace is no accident. Vasilevskiy is already the fastest goalie to 300 career wins, and he can become the quickest to 400 if he records his 30th win of the season, which would give him that distinction as well.
Wins can look like a team stat on paper, but the Lightning’s numbers with and without Vasilevskiy tell the story. Last season, he finished 39-15-4, a points percentage of .672.
When Tampa Bay used any other goalie, the team went 11-11-2. Without him in net, the Lightning were basically a .500 club.
That’s part of why Vasilevskiy’s trophy case already includes the Vezina Trophy, why he finished in the top 10 for Hart Memorial Trophy voting, and why he also has a Conn Smythe to his name. Even on a team loaded with talent, he has been the driver.
And as the source of another record, he also remains the kind of player who will literally fight for his team when the moment calls for it.
So when another milestone lands on his ledger, it fits the larger picture: Vasilevskiy keeps stacking records, and there are still more ahead.
In Other News...
Lightning Got The Response Fans Needed In Their Home Opener
The home opener gave Tampa Bay exactly the kind of reset it needed, with a 3-1 win over the Capitals in front of its own crowd. Brandon Hagel set the tone early by helping on the first two goals, while Charle-Edouard DAstous added a timely finish and Andrei Vasilevskiy settled things down with 19 saves for his first win of the season.
For a team looking to answer an uneven start, the performance checked a lot of early-season boxes. The Lightning skated with more purpose, got production from the top of the lineup and leaned on Vasilevskiy when Washington tried to push back, leaving plenty of reason to believe the opener can be more than just a one-night response. [Read more 🡒]
Lightning Showed Fans Something Encouraging In Their First Real Test
The home opener offered Tampa Bay a useful first look at how the pieces might fit together, and the Lightning came away with a 3-1 win over Washington. Goals from Charle-Edouard DAstous, Conor Geekie and Jake Guentzel gave the building plenty to cheer about, while the overall performance had the kind of steadiness that can matter early in a season when teams are still sorting out roles and rhythm.
Jon Cooper also used the night to try a few lineup tweaks, giving the roster a different look as he searched for the right combinations. Gage Goncalves getting a chance higher in the order stood out as part of that evaluation, and the result was encouraging enough to keep the conversation going about what this group might look like once the coach settles on his preferred mix. [Read more 🡒]
Lightning Blue Line Already Facing An Early Season Problem
The Lightning are dealing with an early blue-line concern after Emil Lilleberg exited the clubs recent game with an injury and was not on the ice for the next practice while he underwent further examination. With Tampa Bay trying to sort out its defenseman depth early in the season, the timing is less than ideal for a group that is already being asked to absorb some attrition.
Assistant coach Rob Zettler said the team expects to have a better handle on Lillebergs status before the next game, which leaves a little uncertainty hanging over the matchup ahead. If Lilleberg is unavailable, the Lightning may need to lean on options such as Max Crozier to help fill the gap on the back end and keep the rotation steady. [Read more 🡒]