Vasilevskiy sent back to Tampa to be re-evaluated for lower-body injury, out indefinitely
Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has been sent back to Tampa Bay amid the club's current four-game road trip and is out indefinitely, head coach Jon Cooper told reporters Thursday, per the team. He'll be re-evaluated for a potential foot or ankle injury, according to The Athletic's Joe Smith.
Lightning backup goalie Louis Domingue said following Thursday's morning skate that Vasilevskiy broke his foot in practice Wednesday, according to Smith.
While Vasilevskiy looks like he'll be out long term, Cooper wouldn't give a timeline on his No. 1 goalie, noting that he'll wait until he receives the test results, Smith adds.
The Lightning currently pace the Atlantic Division with 25 points heading into Thursday's slate of games. Vasilevskiy has gone 9-3-1 with a 2.30 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage. Meanwhile, Domingue has been a bit shaky depiste a winning record thus far, holding a 3.43 goals-against average and a .887 save percentage.
In a corresponding move, the team recalled goalie Eddie Pasquale from the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League.
The Lightning are in action against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night, for which Domingue will likely get the start between the pipes.