The Tampa Bay Lightning may not have to go too much longer without their star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Head coach Jon Cooper told reporters Wednesday that "there's a really good chance" Vasilevskiy makes his season debut at some point on the team's upcoming three-game road trip.
Vasilevskiy, 29, has already missed the Lightning's first 19 games of the season. The netminder underwent microdiscectomy surgery late in September to address a lumbar disc herniation.
Vasilevskiy first experienced a problem with his back in August and received an injection.
Treatment and a second injection failed to resolve the problem after Vasilevskiy experienced the issue again when he practiced for the first time in training camp.
In his absence, Jonas Johansson has taken on the starting role, appearing in 16 games and recording a 3.44 goals-against average and .893 save percentage.
If Vasilevskiy is healthy enough to immediately takeover as starter, it's safe to assume he will. The Russian posted a 34-22-4 record, along with a 2.65 goals-against average and .915 save percentage over 60 games in 2022-23.
The two-time Stanley Cup winner, and former Vezina Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy recipient, also appeared in six playoff games last season.
The Lightning (9-6-4) play the Winnipeg Jets at home Wednesday night before heading on their road trip, where they'll face the Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche and Arizona Coyotes over a span of five days.
— with files from the Associated Press
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