Bolts' Andrei Vasilevskiy upbeat after Game 4 loss to Blackhawks
CHICAGO — For Andrei Vasilevskiy, the Tampa Bay Lightning's top goaltending prospect, the "future" arrived abruptly on Wednesday night in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The 20-year-old Russian made his first postseason start, subbing for injured No. 1 Tampa Bay netminder Ben Bishop, whose condition and exact return remain a mystery — known only to Bishop, coach Jon Cooper and possibly a handful of others in the Lightning organization.
Vasilevskiy wasn't at fault for either of Chicago's two goals that gave the Blackhawks a 2-1 win and tied the series at two games apiece. Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad were both alone at the edge of the crease — and arguably had the puck bounce their way.
In fact, Tampa Bay's first-round pick in the 2012 draft (19th overall) seemed almost upbeat about his and the Lightning's performance. Even if Vasilevskiy is still learning English, he spoke it well enough after Wednesday's contest to make his points and express his feelings.
Was he nervous when he learned he'd start?
"A little bit maybe," he said. "Because I can play under pressure. For me it's not something new. I was ready for the pressure from fans and players."
Vasilevskiy had already had a taste of the finals. He jumped in twice in the third period of Game 2 in Tampa, stopping all five shots he faced, closing out the contest and picking up the win.
A start was even better.
"I just was really excited, really happy," he said. "It was (a) dream to play in the Stanley Cup Final.
"I can play better for sure, but for my first time, not bad."
Vasilevskiy's teammates are equally confident in the 6-foot-3 netminder from Tyumen, Russia, located in Siberia and over 1,300 miles east of Moscow.
"He wouldn't be here if we didn't trust him and have confidence in him," Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman said. "Every team he's played for, he's been incredible.
"He prepares himself as through he was going to to play," Stralman added. "I think it shows when he hasn't played in a full game in a long time, (he) just steps right into the fire and has a real good game.
Vasilevskiy made his last regular-season start on March 31 in Toronto, losing 3-1. During his rookie year, he appeared in 16 contests, starting 13 behind Bishop, who won 40 games. Vasilevskiy finished at 7-5-1 with a 2.36 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.
And he's only going to get better. He may also get another start in Game 5 on Saturday in Tampa.
Cooper vowed after Wednesday's game that Bishop will return in the series, but wouldn't say when
In the meantime, Cooper and the Lightning seem fine with their goalie of the future playing now.
"I would sit here and say it validates what we've known all along, Cooper said. "You put the kid on the stage, he's going to perform. Pretty comforting for a coach knowing that you got those two guys back there in net for you."
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