Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning secured his second career Vezina Trophy on June 6, 2026, recognizing him as the National Hockey League’s top goaltender for the 2025-26 men’s ice hockey season. His outstanding play throughout the campaign anchored Tampa Bay’s success in regular season and playoff contests.
Vasilevskiy’s season included a remarkable midseason stretch culminating in a 6-1 victory over the Florida Panthers at home, where he saved 33 of 34 shots as the Lightning extended their record to 16-0-1 over 17 games leading into the Olympic break. In January, he stopped 31 of 33 shots during a crucial win over the Colorado Avalanche at Benchmark International Arena. This victory helped Tampa Bay overturn the narrative of the Avalanche as the league’s hottest team, sparking a run where the Lightning won 10 of 11 games.
In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Vasilevskiy delivered a vintage performance in Game 6 against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre, recording a shutout and making back-to-back saves on Ivan Demidov to force a decisive Game 7. The Lightning’s resilience continued at the 2026 NHL Stadium Series outdoor game held at Raymond James Stadium, where Vasilevskiy notably fought Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman during a pivotal comeback effort.
One of the season’s most electrifying moments came in an overtime thriller against the Edmonton Oilers, where Vasilevskiy made a remarkable triple-save sequence leading to a game-winning goal by Guentzel. This play epitomized his skill and focus during critical moments.
Alongside these on-ice accomplishments, Vasilevskiy’s personality shone during the Vezina Trophy presentation, which featured a playful video involving his Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Demonstrating calm humor, he remarked, “I was just happy my car was in one piece.” Nicknamed “The Big Cat,” Vasilevskiy’s extraordinary season solidified his reputation as one of the NHL’s elite goaltenders.
Source: Original report