Tampa Bay Lightning fans can breathe a sigh of relief as star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is expected to participate in the preseason and is on track to start the regular season opener. After concerns arose due to his absence for most of training camp and the preseason, recent reports indicate that Vasilevskiy will play in the final preseason game against the Florida Panthers on Saturday.

Vasilevskiy's return to the ice comes after he rejoined the Lightning for practice on Tuesday, September 30. He participated fully in the session, engaging in 5-on-5 and special teams drills, closely monitored by the team's medical staff. Prior to this, Vasilevskiy had not practiced with the team since September 19, leading to some unease among fans. Coach Jon Cooper initially described his absence as "player management".

The situation evoked memories of the 2023 preseason when Vasilevskiy had to leave the ice during training camp and subsequently underwent back surgery, causing him to miss the first 20 games of the season. This time around, it appears the Lightning are taking a cautious approach to ensure their star goalie is fully healthy for the long season ahead.

According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Vasilevskiy is expected to be in net when the Lightning face the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, October 9, for their regular-season opener. The team had claimed goalie Pheonix Copley from the Los Angeles Kings, but this move is considered a depth option and insurance in case of any setbacks with Vasilevskiy.

Chris Johnston, a hockey insider, drew a comparison between Vasilevskiy's current situation and that of Auston Matthews last year, when Matthews was not fully healthy and his performance was impacted. Johnston noted Vasilevskiy's past back surgery and heavy workload, suggesting the Lightning are wise to be cautious.

Vasilevskiy is coming off a strong season where he finished second in Vezina Trophy voting. In 63 games, he posted a 38-20-5 record with a 2.18 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. His consistent performance has been a key factor in the Lightning's success, including their Stanley Cup wins in 2020 and 2021.

The Lightning's season schedule includes a home opener against the Ottawa Senators on October 9. A premier event for the Lightning will be on February 1, when they will face the Boston Bruins in the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series at Raymond James Stadium. The team will have a busy month in March with 16 games, half of which will be at home.

With Vasilevskiy expected to be ready for the start of the season, the Tampa Bay Lightning are aiming for a strong start and another run at the Stanley Cup.