Lightning GK Andrei Vasilevskiy makes incredible skate save vs. Leafs

Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Net-minder Andrei Vasilevskiy made several insane saves with his skate during the Tampa Bay Lightning's win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The sensational series of blade brilliance came at the beginning of the third period of the Lightning's 4-1 win on Thursday at Amalie Arena in Tampa. Vasilevskiy was making his first start since Nov. 10 after being sidelined with a broken foot.

"Sometimes I have to make a couple big saves and sometimes guys will score a couple big goals for me to so it's all teamwork," Vasilevskiy told reporters.

Patrick Marleau was on the right side of the Lightning's net during the sequence. Right wing William Nylander blasted in a shot for the Maples Leafs, which was deflected behind a crowd of players in front of the net.

Marleau collected the rebound and curled to Vasilevskiy's glove-side. He flipped up a wrister, but Marleau was able to reject the shot with his left leg.

But the puck flipped behind the goal keeper and bounced toward the net. Vasilevskiy spun his head around and swiped his legs behind his torso. He was able to catch the puck with his right skate, getting just enough of it to clear it from danger. The Lightning defense blasted the puck from the area following the spectacular save.

Vasilevskiy had a season-high 48 saves on 49 shot attempts in the victory.

"He was the best player on the ice for us by a country mile," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "... If you were at the game you saw a lot of good saves he made tonight."

Kasperi Kapanen gave the Maple Leafs a 1-0 advantage 5:26 into the game before the Lightning scored four unanswered goals to take control.

Anthony Cirelli tied the game in the first period. Nikita Kucherov, Alex Killorn and Tyler Johnson all scored in the second period for the Lightning.

The Lightning battle the Winnipeg Jets at 7 p.m. on Sunday at Bells MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.