The Lightning won Game Three 2-1 over the Islanders to take a 2-1 Semifinal series lead. Anyone that watched Game Three would probably perceive the game itself as boring. After all, the Lightning struck first with a Blake Coleman steal and centering pass to Yanni Gourde. This was followed by a hard-fought goal by the Islanders only to be capped off with a phenomenal goal by Brayden Point to ice the game. Moreover, the third period was scoreless and the majority of the game was a defensive one. We also saw another goaltending duo between Semyon Varlamov and Andrei Vasilevskiy.
The game was more of a testament to Andrei Vasilevskiy‘s goaltending. After this game, only a few holdouts would deny the Vasilevskiy is a world-class goaltender. The Islanders got pucks to the net and had opportunities for goals but the entirety of the game looked helpless. The game also felt like one where when Tampa scored twice, it was officially out of reach. Why in particular has the Lightning goaltender been as dominant as he is?
Vasilevskiy’s Game Three Performance
The recent game itself, saw the Islanders take 30 shots on the net, a respectable number considering the Lightning defense. Vasilevskiy saved 29 of the shots, holding the Islanders to only one goal but that won’t tell the full story. This game was one where the defense couldn’t smother the Islanders’ offense and they were breaking through and finding opportunities. There were multiple times in the game where it looked like the Islanders had a clear chance at the net yet were denied by the world-class goaltender.
Vasilevskiy in this game was able to establish the butterfly technique and most importantly, smother second chance opportunities. Essentially, the Islanders wanted to slip shots past him and if the save was made, score on the rebound. Vasilevskiy was able to make the low saves throughout the game and even if the Islanders found second chances near the net, they were denied. Almost by himself, Vasilevskiy made Game Three a boring uneventful game, yet this isn’t an exception when he is in the net.
The Method for Beating Vasilevskiy is Hard to Accomplish
Throughout the playoffs, we have seen ways to beat the world-class goaltender. Vasilevskiy is a taller, bigger goaltender who defends the elevated shots particularly well. This is something that has been crucial to his success in a game where skaters tend to shoot to the top shelf more often than ever before. The ability to save the top-shelf shots squanders what seem like easy scoring chances and eliminates the rushes to the goal. Additionally, Vasilevskiy has proven he can freeze the puck often, crushing the will of the opponents’ offense thus making these games more exhausting to watch.
The technique for beating a goaltender of his size comes in two-fold. For starters, you must attack him in the pads. Low shots for a goaltender that stands tall require quick reactions and tougher saves. The second factor is finding chances near the net, as the Islanders have done multiple times in this series. Both these techniques allow opponents to find easier scoring opportunities and chances off the rebound.
Unfortunately, there are a few people that know about this weakness in the Lightning, the coaching staff, and Vasilevskiy himself. As a result, the Lightning play a 1-3-1 and force shots from the faceoff circle rather than the center of the ice. The Lightning will allow you to shoot the puck but only from terrible angles. Moreover, Vasilevskiy is keener to playing in the butterfly, to get to his knees and make the low saves, well aware he can save a top-shelf shot if need be.
Vasilevskiy is the one Carrying the Lightning For This Cup Run
What stands out about this season, particularly, is how the Lightning have struggled, a lot, yet continue to dominate in these games. Last season, the team was carried by their scoring depth and Victor Hedman making plays from the point as a great two-way defenseman. This season, the Lightning offense has struggled with some of the playoff games being a continuation of the struggles. Likewise, the defense hasn’t been able to bail the team out, allowing easy shots and clear scoring chances.
However, this run has been proof that Vasilevskiy can carry the team and he has done just that. The Florida Panthers had one of the best offenses in the game and the Carolina Hurricanes possessed an even better offense. While both those teams had games where they piled on the goals, Vasilevskiy had those games where he would allow one goal, if lucky, and lockdown for the rest of the game. The success allows us to appreciate one of the best goaltenders in this generation, putting him in all-time great conversations.
