TAMPA—The Lightning has been without Andrei Vasilevskiy for two weeks now, and it is right where it was before the star goaltender got hurt: atop the Atlantic Division..
Louis Domingue has stepped into the No. 1 role with little issue, coming up with big saves and putting the Lightning in the position to win through his nine consecutive starts since Vasilevskiy fractured his left foot in practice Nov. 14.
Exactly like the Lightning drew it up when trading for him last season, right?
Not exactly. A year ago, Domingue was an insurance policy. The Lightning had its star goaltender in Vasilevskiy and a backup it trusted in Peter Budaj.