![\"Utah](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769654589_30_0x0.jpg\")
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TAMPA \u2014 Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning against the Utah Mammoth at Benchmark International Arena on January 26, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio\/NHLI via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
NHLI via Getty Images<\/p>\n
In assessing his 13-game point streak and the success his team has enjoyed overall, Andrei Vasilevskiy noted things have been going pretty well at the other end of the rink. Specifically, the Tampa Bay Lightning averaged nearly five goals per game during a recent 11-game win streak that grew into a 15-game point streak. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard to lose with that kind of support,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s hard to lose with the way the \u201cBig Cat\u201d has tended goal. A 2-0 blanking of Utah on Monday night, surprisingly only his second shutout of the season, extended Vasilevskiy\u2019s aforementioned point streak (12-0-1) during which he has a 1.73 goals against average with a .926 save percentage. The win over the Mammoth was the 31-year-old Russian\u2019s 354th to break a tie with countryman Evgeni Nabokov and Rogie Vachon for sole possession of 24th on the NHL\u2019s all-time list. The shutout was his 42nd. <\/p>\n
As impressive as Vasilevskiy\u2019s run has been, it is eight games behind the career best 21-game streak (19-0-2) he pieced together in 2019-20. He is one shy of his second longest streak, a 14-gamer in 2017-18 during which he was 13-0-1. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe has been the backbone for this team all year,\u201d said Darren Raddysh, who has been dazzling himself during a season in which he is tied for sixth among NHL defensemen in scoring with 44 points and whose eight power play goals lead the team. \u201cHe does it all and I think he is the best goalie in the world. Having him back there gives us a lot of confidence to be aggressive and try to play the way we want to play.\u201d <\/p>\n
Vasilevskiy has been back there, alright. The five-time Vezina Trophy finalist (2018-19 winner) and two-time Stanley Cup champ heads into Thursday evening\u2019s match against visiting Winnipeg leading the league in GAA at 2.07 and is second in save percentage at .920. He has not allowed more than two goals in seven straight games and has yielded more than three goals exactly once in his last 21 outings.<\/p>\n
Credit to the penalty kill<\/p>\n
Though it is a priceless luxury to have Vasilevskiy as the last line of defense, it is helpful when the penalty killing units are doing their part. To that extent, the Bolts head into their match the Jets with the second-best PK in the league at 84.4% while trailing only the Blackhawks, who check in at 85.5%. <\/p>\n
In the win over a Utah club that has enjoyed ample success of its own of late \u2013 Andre Tourigny\u2019s club entered its game in Tampa on an 8-0-1 roll \u2013 the Lightning killed all three power plays while limiting the Mammoth to five shots on goal. Led by defenseman J.J. Moser\u2019s five, the Lighting piled up 20 blocked shots for the evening with many on the penalty kill.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was huge and it has been huge the whole season,\u201d Vasilevskiy said of unit that is under the tutelage of assistants Dan Hinote and Rob Zettler. \u201cOur guys are warriors. Lots of blocks. Lot of good plays.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the larger picture, Vasilevskiy appreciates how everyone in the room has gone about their work as the season approaches the Olympic<\/a> break. The level consistency has certainly been noticeable. <\/p>\n