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A fart in postgame media scrum stole the thunder of Lightning goalie Vasilevskiy's shutout

Jack McKessy, USA TODAY
·2 min read
21
Dec 4, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) saved all 25 shots taken by the Dallas Stars on Monday night. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) saved all 25 shots taken by the Dallas Stars on Monday night. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy was locked in for 60 minutes on the ice. If only the Dallas Stars knew a measly fart was all it would have taken to break his concentration.

Vasilevskiy was lights out on Monday night, shutting out the Stars by saving all 25 shots on goal in his 33rd career shutout – and sixth against Dallas.

The impressive performance should have been the focus of the goalie's night, especially since it came just two days after he conceded six goals to the Stars on the same number of shots. Instead, the viral clip of the night came in his postgame media availability.

While answering a question about his thought process coming into the game after Saturday's blowout loss, a reporter chose a poor time to break wind, sending Vasilevskiy and the rest of the scrum into a fit of laughter.

"What was the question again?" the goalie asked.

Nikita Kucherov had a goal and an assist in Tampa Bay's 4-0 win.

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Andrei Vasilevskiy injury

The 29-year-old Russian goalie missed 20 games for the Lightning after undergoing back surgery in September.

Vasilevskiy initially felt issues with his back in August and received an injection to treat it. When more problems sprang up during training camp, a second injection ultimately proved unsuccessful in ridding him of his back issues.

It was then that the goalie decided to undergo back surgery to address the herniated lumbar disk.

Since his return, Vasilevskiy has a 2-3-0 record with 14 goals allowed and a .887 save percentage. His shutout of the Stars on Monday night was his best performance of the season.

The 10-year NHL veteran won the Vizina Trophy – awarded to the league's best goalie – in 2019 and the Conn Smythe Trophy – awarded to the Stanley Cup playoffs MVP – in 2021.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Andrei Vasilevskiy: Media scrum fart gets laugh from Lightning goalie