TAMPA, Fla. — Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has played a lot of hockey the past three seasons, including every game of the past two postseasons that ended with Stanley Cup championships.
So when Vasilevskiy’s startling numbers start to slip, it’s natural to think he might be tired, that his minutes are catching up to him, that the tread might be coming off the tires of the player who will take the Lightning as far as they will go this postseason.
After Wednesday’s 4-3 loss to the Capitals, Vasilevskiy has lost five of his past eight starts and is just 6-8 over his past 14. His .902 save percentage during that span is dramatically lower than the .921 mark of his first 41 games.
