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Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy makes save of the year on same night Vincent Lecavalier’s number 4 retired

By Ian Oland

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February 11, 2018 3:03 am

The NHL-leading Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 Saturday. While the Lightning retired Vincent Lecavalier’s No. 4 pregame, it was Andrei Vasilevskiy who made all the headlines afterwards.

The Bolts goaltender robbed Anže Kopitar in one of the greatest saves you’ll ever see.

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The save happened 8:35 into the first period. As Kopitar shot the puck towards the net from the wing, he was blocked. Kopitar gathered in his own rebound and fired again, this time from a sharp angle. Vasilevskiy, caught flat-footed, reached his left arm behind his body and OH MY GOD HE CAUGHT THE PUCK.

“To be honest, I didn’t see anything,” Vasilevskiy said according to the Lightning’s Twitter account. “I just saw the blade of Kopitar’s stick. I realized I didn’t have enough time to be square to the puck so I made the decision to turn the other way and I got lucky.”

All in all Vasilevskiy made 44 saves on the evening, but all anyone could talk about afterwards was his behind-the-back glove save.

“That’s up there for sure,” Stamkos said to NHL.com. “Definitely one of the best saves I’ve ever seen live.”

Kopitar told the media Vasilevskiy should buy a lottery ticket.

Head coach Jon Cooper was stunned.

Anton Stralman spoke in hyperbole.

Meanwhile, the guy who was supposed to be the man of the hour, Vincent Lecavalier, received one of the biggest honors of his life before puck drop.

Lecavalier finished his career with the most goals (383) and games played (1,037) in franchise history. He joined Martin St. Louis as the only Lightning players to have their jerseys retired.

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