The Lightning will be without goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy for four to six weeks.
Vasilevskiy fractured his left foot during Wednesday's practice in Pittsburgh. He flew back to Tampa to be evaluated by the team's doctors and the Lightning got their assessment on Friday.
On Thursday, Louis Domingue, who will start in his stead, said the mere fact that Vasilevskiy was out was an indication of the injury's severity. It takes a lot for Vasilevskiy not to play, and Domingue joked that the coaches almost had to force him.
This means the Lightning will be without one of their best and most important players for at least 14 games on the four-week end of the estimate.
As of Wednesday, Vasilevskiy was tied atop the league in wins with nine. He is 9-3-1 this season with a save percentage of .927 and a goals-against average of 2.30.
Three out of the five Tampa Bay Times staffers surveyed before the season picked Vasilevskiy to be the team's MVP.
Jon Cooper said Thursday that he feels good with Domingue in net.
Domingue now has consecutive starts for the first time this season. Tuesday's start in Buffalo had been planned, but Thursday's was to fill in for Vasilevskiy.
Domingue made 28 saves on 31 shots against Pittsburgh and 17 on 19 shots against the Sabres (a season-low on shots allowed for the Lightning).
