Tampa Bay Lightning star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy underwent back surgery on Thursday and is expected to miss the first two months of the season, general manager Julien BriseBois announced.
Vasilevsky briefly participated in practice on Tuesday for the Lightning, who likely will turn to Jonas Johansson in goal to start the upcoming season. Fellow netminders Matt Tomkins and Hugo Alnefelt also are on the roster.
Vasilevskiy, 29, posted a 34-22-4 record with four shutouts, a 2.65 goals-against average and .915 save percentage in 60 games (all starts) last season with the Lightning.
The 2018-19 Vezina Trophy recipient and a two-time Stanley Cup champion, Vasilevskiy is 263-123-28 with 32 shutouts, a 2.52 GAA and .919 save percentage in 425 career games (415 starts) with Tampa Bay.
Johansson, 28, went 2-0-0 with a 2.10 goals-against average and .932 save percentage in three appearances (two starts) last season with the Colorado Avalanche.
He is 11-13-4 with one shutout, a 3.35 GAA and .886 save percentage in 35 career games (28 starts) with the Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers and Avalanche.
–Field Level Media
In the past, trips to Seattle almost have felt like home games for the Toronto Blue Jays. Thousands of fans from across western Canada usually flock south of the border…
Let the rivalry resume. The Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers got their first look at each other Thursday, when Arizona benefited from Gabriel Moreno’s fourth-inning grand slam and 6 1/3…
The Colorado Rockies wrapped up a home series against the best team in the American League and now face one of the better clubs in the National League. Colorado lost…
Diamondbacks take aim at Roki Sasaki, Dodgers in rematch
Reeling Rockies aim to play better ‘brand of baseball’ vs. Padres
Hot clubs clash as Giants begin series against Twins
Jeremy Pena, Astros aim for fast start against Reds
Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM
