Andrei Vasilevskiy Starts Saturday Against Panthers After Post-Surgery Comeback Season

Andrei Vasilevskiy will guard the road goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning against Florida on Saturday. The elite goaltender won 30 games in 2023-24 despite missing nearly two months at the start of the season due to offseason back surgery. He struggled initially upon his return but showed his old form towards the end of the season and used the summer to rebuild strength. Despite his 2023-24 stats (2.90 GAA, .900 SV%) potentially deterring some, Vasilevskiy, a Vezina Trophy winner and Conn Smythe recipient, is expected to return to all-star form. He remains a top goalie pick in fantasy drafts, known for his high volume of games.