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Lightning Round: The reports of the demise of Andrei Vasilevskiy may have been premature

Andrei Vasilevskiy. Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Lightning via their Twitter (@TBLightning)

When the Tampa Bay Lightning needed him the most this season Andrei Vasilevskiy stepped up with his best game of the postseason. In the Lightning’s 4-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vasilevskiy stopped 28 0f 30 shots, allowing just 2 goals against an expected goals of 3.75 according to Evolving Hockey. With the performance the Lightning’s playoff life was extended for at least one more night.

It’s been a rough start for Vasilevskiy who, somewhat uncharacteristically has found himself at the bottom of some statistical categories.

While we aren’t used to seeing a negative sign in front of his goals saved above expected, one of the other things to notice is that the only goaltender that has faced a higher expected goals number is Joonas Korpisalo (to his credit it is the Edmonton Oilers that’s posting that 16.41 number). Vasilevskiy’s teammates have not been helping him out and the Leafs have been getting their chances.

As has been mentioned, it’s deflections that seem to be plaguing him this season (at least it’s not the high blocker discourse again) and the best way to eliminate that problem is by eliminating the players in front of the net. The Lightning did better in Game 5 but Toronto still had their chances. When they did, Vasy made the stop as he posted a 90.91 SV% on high-danger shots. That is by far his best number of the series.

The turning point of the game came on one of those high-danger chances and it wasn’t on a deflection. It was on Mitch Marner, who was alone on a breakaway –

The Lightning had the 2-1 lead at that point and if Marner buries it, the crowd is back in it, the Leafs are in it, and the Lightning are looking at their third straight game featuring a blow lead. Instead, he made the stop (on his blocker side, by the way) and Nick Paul would add an insurance goal a few minutes later that ended up being the game-winning goal.

It isn’t always the volume of shots that matters, especially in the playoffs, often it’s the timing. Expecting a goaltender to stop every shot in every game is an unreasonable standard to set. Goals are going to go in, especially against a team with the firepower that Toronto has. The key to winning and advancing is to make the saves when they matter most.

Vasilevskiy did that on Thursday. The Lightning will need him to do it again on Saturday. Are you willing to betting he won’t?

Lightning News

Lightning win Game 5, force Game 6 [Raw Charge]

Depth scoring, quality goaltending, and holding a third period lead, that’s the postseason Tampa Bay Lightning we’ve come to know.

Lightning 4, Leafs 2 [Pension Plan Puppets]

The view from the other side of the ice.

If anyone is looking to offersheet Ross Colton this summer, here is the compensation chart.

Syracuse Crunch sign Tristan Allard [Syracuse Crunch]

The Crunch have increased their forward depth for this year and next by signing Tristan Allard to a two-year AHL deal. Allard, a 20-year-old forward recorded 27 goals and 50 assists to lead the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies this past season. The contract kicks in next year as he has signed an ATO with the Crunch for the remainder of this season.

The Post Game Videos:

Jon Cooper

Jon Cooper | Postgame R1G5
Head Coach Jon Cooper spoke to the media following the Bolts 4-2 win in Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.

Victor Hedman Michael Eyssimont

Hedman, Eyssimont | Postgame R1G5
Victor Hedman and Mikey Eyssimont spoke to the media following the Bolts 4-2 win in Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.

Anthony Cirelli

Cirelli | Postgame R1G5
Forward Anthony Cirelli spoke to the media following the Bolts 4-2 win in Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.

Nick Paul

Paul | Postgame R1G5
Forward Nick Paul spoke to the media following the Bolts 4-2 win in Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.

Pat Maroon

Maroon | Postgame R1G5
Forward Pat Maroon spoke to the media following the Bolts 4-2 win in Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.

NHL / Hockey News

Kraken sign Jagger Firkus signs entry-level deal [Davy Jones Locker Room]

The second round pick with the first round name signed his deal following an 88-point regular season and 21 point postseason for the Moose Jaw Warriors. He’s signed an ATO with the Coachella Valley Firebirds to help them chase the Calder Trophy.

One thing we’ve learned about every NHL playoff team [Bleacher Report]

Yes, the Lightning have issues depth-wise on defense. The Leafs have handled the pressure so far, can they handle it in Game 6?

Phil Kessel scratched for Game 5 [Las Vegas Review-Journal]

For the first time since Novermber 3, 2009 a team that had Phil Kessel on the roster, did not put him in the line-up. With William Carrier returning to action, Kessel sat out.

The best (looking) hockey playoff tradition [Defending Big D]

Our friends over at Defending Big D went indepth on the synchronized look the Stars’ better halves have been pulling off in this year’s postseason. It’s a fun read!

New Jersey Devils 4-0 over New York Rangers [Devils lead series 3-2]

Akira Schmid is this year’s Jake Oettinger. The rookie is 3-0 with an 0.63 GAA and a .976 SV%. He picked up his first career postseason NHL shutout while old friend Ondrej Palat added yet another game-winning goal to his playoff resumé.

Vegas Golden Knights 4-1 over Winnipeg Jets [Golden Knights win series 4-1]

Chandler Stevenson scored twice and Laurent Brossoit stopped 30 shots as the Golden Knights became the first team to advance to the second round. They now await the winner of the Edmonton-Los Angeles series.  

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