Lightning React to NHL's Andrei Vasilevskiy Announcement
The Tampa Bay Lightning finished second in the Atlantic Division this NHL season, and much of their success can be credited to their goalie, Andrei Vasilevskiy.
The 30-year-old Russian appeared in 63 regular-season games, putting together a 38-20-5 record and posting a career-best 2.18 Goals Against Average (GAA) in his 11th NHL season. He also ranked second in total saves (1,581), second in shutouts (six), and second in high-danger save percentage (.853) this year.
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On Monday, before Vasilevskiy and the Lightning faced the Florida Panthers in Sunrise for Game 4 of their first-round series, the NHL announced he had been named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, awarded annually "to the goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at this position."
Vasilevskiy was named a finalist alongside Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck and Los Angeles Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper.
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88).© Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Following the NHL's announcement, the Lightning reacted to the big Vasilevskiy news on social media.
"No surprise here!" the Lightning wrote. "Big Cat is a 2024-25 Vezina Trophy finalist."
Vasilevskiy previously won the Vezina Trophy in 2019 and has been a key part of Tampa Bay's success over the past several years, helping the team win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021 and make three consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances from 2020 to 2022.
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This is Vasilevskiy's fifth nomination for the award, finishing second in voting in 2020-21 and third in 2017-18 and 2019-20.
Voting for the Vezina Trophy is based solely on regular-season performance, with the winner set to be announced at the 2025 NHL Awards ceremony in June.
Related: Wayne Gretzky Predicts 2025 Stanley Cup Final Matchup
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