Andrei Vasilevskiy stole the show and another win on the road for the Tampa Bay Lightning with 36 saves in a 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals to even the Eastern Conference Final Thursday.
The win was the fifth on the road and 10th of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs for Vasilevskiy.
"Vasy was there to bail us out," Lightning captain Steven Stamkos praised the netminder postgame. "That's why he's one of, if not the best, goalie in the world. He's given us a chance throughout the year when we haven't had our best, and tonight was another example of that."
Vasilevsky pulled out save after save to keep the Lightning on the right track. Among the most impressive was a third-period stop off the stick of Washington Capitals forward Brett Connolly.
The Vezina Trophy finalist also reaped praise from some of the game's biggest goaltending legends, and legends in the making in a recent interview with The Athletic.
“He’s not only physically big, but he plays big. He knows he’s big, knows he covers most of the net," said Hockey Hall of Famer Ken Dryden. "And he just seems to kind of have that awareness that there’s not much there. And I’m sure they’re coming in, and you just don’t see much.
"Technique wise he’s so effortless," said possible future Hall of Famer and former Vezina Trophy-winner, Henrik Lundqvist. "He’s got really quick feet, and that’s what you need. He was probably the best goalie in the league this year and it starts with his footwork. He uses his size well and moves really well. He has all the tools.”
Alex Killorn scored the go-ahead goal for the Lightning in the third period on the heels of a power-play to send the series back to Tampa Bay for Game 5.
The Lightning look to break the series trend – visiting teams have gone 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Final – and pick up a win on home ice at Amalie Arena Saturday at 7:15 p.m. ET.