Andrei Vasilevskiy earns trust of Lightning, but Bishop ‘will play again’

CHICAGO – NHL players, and especially goalies, are expected to be unfeeling robotic ice warriors when it comes to concepts like fear and apprehension. 

So please forgive Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy for admitting that, yes, a 20-year-old goalie who was told on game day that he would start Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final was, in fact, nervous.

“Just a little bit maybe,” he said after the Lightning’s Game 4 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night, evening the Final at 2-2. “But I can play under pressure. For me, it’s not something new. I was ready for pressure from fans and players.”

Vasilevskiy made 17 saves on the night, which saw the Lightning suppress the Blackhawks’ shots in front of him and Vasilevskiy get the benefit of a couple of Chicago chances off his right post.

“If you tell me we’re going to come in and he’s going to give up two goals, that’s a hell of a job in my book,” said coach Jon Cooper. “It doesn’t matter which guy we put in there, We’ve got full confidence in both guys. He showed that in the pinnacle of the sport, that he can play. That’s a pretty big achievement for a 20-year-old.”

Vasilevskiy’s last start was on March 31 in a regular-season game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He’s played just 16 games in the NHL, along with four in this postseason: Coming on in relief of starter Ben Bishop in blowout losses to the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers, and then replacing Bishop twice in the third period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final after the Lightning starter left with an undisclosed injury.

Bishop played through that undisclosed injury in a Game 3 win in Chicago, making 36 saves. “It felt like any other game,” he said, although he appeared labored.

It was expected he would start in Game 4, even as Coach Jon Cooper said the team was in “a holding pattern” regarding his status. After all, there were questions about Bishop before Game 3, and after Cooper “looked into his eyes” and saw he was ready before the game, he was given the start.

But Vasilevskiy led the team out for warm-ups, stunning those in the arena. Bishop didn’t even dress as his backup.

“We knew today that he probably wasn’t going to be able to go. Got here tonight and we just confirmed it,” said Cooper.

Vasilevskiy was told after the morning skate that he was likely in. The rest of the Lightning were told on the bus over to the arena, according to captain Steven Stamkos.

“Tough to say we had a clue as to who was going to play,” he said. “We had full confidence, and Vassy played great. He made big saves. He gave us a chance. You give up two goals on the road, you have a chance to win.”

That was the review from the Lightning players after the game: That Vasilevskiy’s 17-save performance gave them even more confidence in the young netminder.

“We have a tremendous amount of confidence and trust and belief in what he can do on the ice. He showed again that he’s a terrific goalie,” said defenseman Anton Stralman.

“I don’t think anyone in this room doubted him at all. He played in the finals of the KHL. Did very well there. Played professional for many years, high pressure situations, did very well there.”

Vasilevskiy played three seasons in the KHL, including 18 starts in a run to the Gagarin Cup that saw him post a 1.99 GAA.

In his first Stanley Cup Final start, Vasilevskiy didn’t face a shot until there was 11:43 left in the first period. “He didn’t get into the game out there in the first period. They had two shots [in the period]. I don’t know if that’s for the good or for the worse for us,” said Stralman.

The first goal Vasilevskiy surrendered was on a great Patrick Sharp pass across the crease to Jonathan Toews. No issues there. It happens. 

But the game-winner by Brandon Saad at 6:22 of the third period was a bit more problematic.

As Saad cut across his crease, the Lightning goalie attempt to poke check the puck away. It hit Saad’s skate, he controlled and Vasilevskiy failed to protect his five-hole.

The book on Vasilevskiy is that he can be beaten high. Saad had the puck on his backhand. The guess was that he would try to go top shelf.

He guessed wrong.

“I used the stick, the puck hit his skate. It was a five-hole goal? I didn’t think he [wanted to shoot] five hole. I thought top shelf or something,” he said.

Game 5 is back in Tampa on Saturday night. Bishop, of the Mystery Injury, will have rested four full days between his Game 3 win and the fifth game of the series. Is there a chance he’s healthy enough to play, or does the crease now belong to Vasilevskiy? 

“Gosh, I wish I could give you an answer to that,” said Cooper, before making a declaration.

“Bish is going to play again in this series, there’s no question. I just don’t know which game.”