Bolts head coach asked whether he thought about pulling Vasilevskiy in Game 2; his answer was a great one
Back-to-back Stanley Cup winner and reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy is the consensus best goaltender in the world right now. That's why, when Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper was asked how close he was to pulling Vasi during the Bolts' 7-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, he said that he didn't even consider it.
"He's the best goalie in the world. And we win together, we lose together. Even if I did, I don't think he would have come out. That's what a competitor he is. That's why he's the best."
Vasilevskiy is not exactly a goaltender that gets rattled. In fact, he has only lost back to back games once in the last 3 playoffs prior to last night - and that was against the Rangers in round 3. Otherwise, Vasi has been tremendous for the Bolts, especially in elimination games. He's the type of goaltender that will come out and steal games when he needs to. Right now, he needs to.
Vasilevskiy and the Bolts find themselves down 2-0 in the series, but it's not an unfamiliar spot for them to be in. Tampa also trailed the Rangers 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals before turning the series around in Tampa, taking 4 straight to dispatch of the Rangers in 6. They'll try to do the same against the Avs, beginning on Monday with Game 3.
