The Tampa Bay Lightning goalie replaces Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask, who said he is skipping the game to spend more time with his family.
Per League rules, he will be suspended either one game before or after the All-Star Game. He said he thinks it will the Bruins' first game after the All-Star Game and their League-mandated five-day break, which is at the Winnipeg Jets on Jan. 31.
"I had to be kind of selfish, thinking how much hockey we played last year and short summer and thinking to play until June again," Rask said, referencing the Bruins' run the Stanley Cup Final last season. "So just kind of a selfish decision to spend the time with the family and go away and get your mind, body kind of rejuvenated and be ready for the last couple busy months of the season."
It will be the third straight All-Star Game appearance for Vasilevskiy and third overall. He will pass Nikolai Khabibulin (2002, 2003) for most by a Lightning goalie.
Vasilevskiy entered Monday tied for first among NHL goalies for wins (22) with Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues. He's won eight games in a row, the third-longest streak of his NHL career, and has a shutout in two straight games. Vasilevskiy hasn't allowed a goal in 145:55 and is 9-0-1 in regulation since Dec. 14.
On Monday, Vasilevskiy was named the NHL First Star of the Week ending Jan. 12 after winning three straight games with an 0.67 goals-against average and .972 save percentage. He's 22-9-2 with a 2.58 GAA and .915 save percentage this season.
