Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper revealed that goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy refused to be pulled from the game during their 6-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Cooper praised Vasilevskiy’s determination, stating, “That’s why he’s the best in the world. He’s not coming out.”
It’s believed that Vasilevskiy chooses to stay in the game during difficult moments to battle through adversity and learn from his mistakes. The 28-year-old goaltender’s mental resilience is admirable, as he continues to fight on the ice even when faced with an easier way out.
Although Vasilevskiy’s performance in the first two games of the playoffs has resulted in a goals against average (GAA) of 5.00 and a save percentage (SV%) of .853, his career playoff numbers paint a different picture. With a GAA of 2.35 and a SV% of .922, Vasilevskiy’s performance is expected to improve as the series progresses.
As the Tampa Bay Lightning look to bounce back in the series against the Maple Leafs, Vasilevskiy’s unwavering determination could prove to be a significant factor in their success. The team will rely on their star goaltender’s ability to learn from setbacks and maintain his composure under pressure.
With a tied series with each team trading a touchdown worth of goals, this series will continue to be a tough battle for both sides as the series travels down to Tampa Bay for games 3 and 4. Vasilevskiy refused to be pulled
