Vasilevskiy gave up five goals on 30 shots in a Game 5 loss to Florida on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Vasilevskiy was subpar by his standards in the postseason, registering a 1-4 record, 3.27 GAA and .872 save percentage in five games versus the Panthers. Nominated for the Vezina Trophy, the 30-year-old netminder was fantastic again in the regular season, going 38-20-5 with six shutouts and a 2.18 GAA in his 63 outings. Vasilevskiy will look to continue his run of eight straight 30-win seasons as he heads into the 2025-26 campaign.

Vasilevskiy will protect the home goal versus the Panthers in Game 5 on Wednesday, Gabby Shirley of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Vasilevskiy allowed three goals on 22 shots in Game 4 on Monday, squandering a lead late in the third period. That loss makes Wednesday's game a must-win for the Lightning to keep their season alive. Vasilevskiy is 1-3 with a 2.79 GAA and an .884 save percentage over the first four games of the series and has had his hands full with the defending champions at times.

Vasilevskiy stopped 19 of 22 shots Monday in the Lightning's 4-2 loss to the Panthers in Game 4 of their first-round series. Florida's final goal was scored into an empty net.

EDGE Analysis

Tampa Bay took a 2-1 lead into the third period, but late in the frame, Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones scored 11 seconds apart to flip the script. Vasilevskiy has been erratic this postseason, managing a 2.79 GAA and an .884 save percentage through four starts, and as a result, the Bolts will be facing elimination when the series shifts back to Tampa for Game 5 on Wednesday.

Vasilevskiy will be between the road pipes in Game 4 against the Panthers on Monday, Gabby Shirley of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

As if there was any doubt, Vasilevskiy will be tasked with attempting to send the series back to Tampa Bay tied at 2-2. The Russian netminder's workload has increased in each game of this series, and after conceding six goals on 17 shots in Game 1, Vasilevskiy has turned aside 54 of 56 shots (.964 save percentage) over the last two matchups. The Lightning will receive a boost Monday in the form of Brandon Hagel, who was suspended for Saturday's Game 3 win.

Vasilevskiy made 33 saves in a 5-1 win over Florida on Saturday in Game 3.

EDGE Analysis

Matthew Tkachuk was the lone member of the Panthers to beat Vasilevskiy, and the goal came at 2:43 of the first period after a turnover in the Bolts' zone. Vasilevskiy has gotten stronger and stronger over the three games of the series. He put the six-goal debacle in Game 1 behind him with two solid efforts. Vasilevskiy is 1-2-0 with a 2.70 GAA and an .890 save percentage this postseason.

Vasilevskiy will patrol the road crease versus Florida on Saturday in Game 3, Gabby Shirley of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Vasilevskiy struggled in Game 1, allowing six goals on only 17 shots, but he rebounded nicely in Game 2 despite the loss, giving up one goal on 21 shots. Vasilevskiy was outstanding in the regular season, going 38-20-5 with six shutouts, a 2.18 GAA and a .921 save percentage. The Panthers hold a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series and return home for Game 3, where the team finished 17th in the NHL with 126 goals.

Vasilevskiy made 21 saves in a 2-0 loss to the Panthers on Thursday. He allowed one goal.

EDGE Analysis

He and Sergei Bobrovsky exchanged saves most of the night in a tight goalie duel. Nate Schmidt beat him in the first period on a one-timer from above the right circle. Vasilevskiy quite effectively bounced back after playing sieve Tuesday night (six goals on 16 shots) in Game 1.

Vasilevskiy was the first goalie to leave the ice Thursday, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports, indicating he'll be in goal for Game 2 at home versus the Panthers.

EDGE Analysis

Vasilevskiy was never going to lose the starting gig in Tampa, despite having given up six goals on 16 shots for his worst save percentage of the season (.625) in Game 1. The 30-year-old backstop has led the Bolts to three Stanley Cup Finals, including two wins over his 11-year career, so benching him for Jonas Johansson probably hasn't even crossed head coach Jon Cooper's mind.

Vasilevskiy stopped 10 of 16 shots in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Panthers in Game 1.

EDGE Analysis

The Lightning's shot suppression game was fine, but the Panthers cashed in on all three of their power-play chances, which ultimately was the difference. This was one of Vasilevskiy's worst outings in quite a while -- he didn't allow more than five goals in any start in 2024-25. The last time he allowed six goals was Feb. 17, 2024, which also came against the Panthers. Vasilevskiy will be the man between the pipes for the Lightning, so expect him to get a chance to redeem himself Thursday in Game 2.

Vasilevskiy is set to start at home Tuesday against the Panthers in Game 1, Gabby Shirley of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Vasilevskiy finished the regular season playing at a high level, earning an 8-2-2 record, 1.73 GAA and .929 save percentage over his last 12 appearances. The Panthers are close to being fully healthy, but the status of Matthew Tkachuk (groin) for Game 1 has yet to be determined. Vasilevskiy has been excellent in postseason play throughout his 11-year career, sporting a 66-46-0 record, .920 save percentage and 2.41 GAA over 115 appearances.