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The Canadiens have just received unexpected help for Tuesday.
“NEWS: Andrei Vasilevskiy has been moved to IR, so he will miss both games in Toronto and Montreal.
The rule is to be out a minimum of 7 days from the day after the game in which the player was injured.”
– Diandra Loux
The 31-year-old star goaltender has an 11-6-2 record this season, a 2.31 goals-against average, and a .917 save percentage – all while carrying a $9.5-million-per-year contract valid through 2028. This matchup comes at a crucial moment in the standings. The Canadiens hold a 15-9-3 record, while the Lightning arrive with a 16-10-2 mark, the two clubs separated by only three points near the top of the Atlantic Division. And on Tuesday night, a packed Bell Centre awaits Tampa Bay for the 7 p.m. showdown.
Against Montreal, Vasilevskiy is almost like a recurring bad dream. In his career, he has a 16-3-2 record against the Canadiens, a history that completely changes the perception of a game like Tuesday’s when he suddenly disappears from the equation.
Andrei Vasilevskiy leaves a massive void in net
In his place, Jon Cooper must turn to Jonas Johansson or Brandon Halverson. Johansson has nine games this season, with a 5-3-0 record, a 3.06 goals-against average, and an .892 save percentage. Halverson, meanwhile, is 29 years old, has only two NHL games under his belt, and in his first start allowed five goals on 24 shots against Utah last March.
At the team level, the contrast is striking. The Lightning allow roughly three goals per game this season, while the Canadiens score an average of 3.22 goals per game – a significant offensive improvement compared to recent years.
In a Bell Centre already buzzing after an intense weekend against Toronto and St. Louis, seeing a Johansson-Halverson duo arrive instead of Vasilevskiy is almost a gift from the heavens for fans. Montreal has seen the Russian steal the show so many times that the atmosphere is likely to be in “anything is possible” mode from the opening faceoff. The challenge remains enormous – the Lightning never travel without talent. But an opening like this in goal doesn’t come often.
If the Canadiens can’t take advantage of a gift like this on Tuesday night, we’ll seriously have to ask what more they need to launch a real streak.
Previously on All Montreal Hockey
POLL
9 HOURS AGO | 231 ANSWERS
Canadiens get major boost as Lightning lose Andrei Vasilevskiy ahead of Tonight’s matchup
Without Andrei Vasilevskiy, do the Canadiens absolutely need to win on Tuesday?
