The 2023-24 NHL season hasn't gone particularly well for Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy. The 29-year-old netminder, who was born in Tyumen, Russia, missed the team's first 20 games following back surgery.
Things are looking up for Vasilevskiy, however, as he stopped all 25 shots in a 4-0 shutout of the Dallas Stars on Monday night.
The evening took on a humorous twist during Vasilevskiy's press conference when one of his teammates let out a loud fart, causing a ripple of laughter among the reporters present.
Somebody let one rip during Vasilevskiy?s postgame interview ??
(?: @BallyLightning) pic.twitter.com/phmxN7Hqfe
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) December 5, 2023
Vasilevskiy was attempting to answer a serious question about his previous struggles — including an 8-1 loss to Dallas earlier this season — when one of the other Lightning players passed gas.
Vasilevskiy joined everyone in the levity to the point where he totally lost his train of thought.
"What was the question again?" he asked, still laughing.
Most pressers are filled with the same mundane questions from the media followed by player- and coach-speak responses, so it's always a treat when something unexpected like this happens and goes viral. After all, how can anyone possibly keep a straight face amid such amusement?
Vasilevskiy was the Lightning's 19th overall pick in the first round of the 2012 NHL draft. In 430 career games, he's accumulated 265 wins and 33 shutouts with a 2.53 goals against average (GAA) and .918 save percentage (S%). He also led the Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021. In addition, he holds the NHL record for most wins in a single postseason with 18.
In just five games this season, Vasilevskiy has two wins, including the shutout over Dallas, with a 3.03 GAA and .887 S%. Maybe Monday's performance and memorable postgame presser are a sign of better things to come.
