"Shesterkin is far behind Vasileyskiy"- JP Peterson thinks Tampa Bay Lightning goalie is a far better player

The Tampa Bay Lightning are the fifth-best team in the NHL this season. The club is also among the heavy favorites to lift the Stanley Cup this year. They won the coveted Cup in 2020 and 2021 and were on track to do so again in 2022, but fell short in the finals to the Colorado Avalanche.

Most of TB Lightning's wins this season should be credited to goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who is currently ranked fifth in the league. In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, JP Peterson, an NHL insider, compared the New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin to Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.

According to JP Peterson, Shesterkin is far behind Andrei Vasilevskiy:

"I think Shesterkin, for my money, you know, some people believe he's the best goalie in the game. He's far behind Vasilevskiy, he's not, and it's just stark and gives Lightning problems. When you got a goalie like that, you're gonna be good."

Andrei Vasilevskiy has played 43 games for the Lightning. He has a 2.60 goals-against-average with a 0.916 save percentage, making him the fifth-best goaltender in the league this season.

Tampa Bay Lightning's 2022-23 NHL campaign run so far

The TB Lightning currently hold a solid position in third place within the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference with 76 points with a record of 36-17-4.

Things have not been going well for the club. In their last five matches, they have only managed to secure two victories. Their most-recent loss occurred on Thursday (February 23), when they were defeated by the Buffalo Sabres 6-5 in overtime.

Star forward Nikita Kucherov has been the most valuable player for the Tampa Bay Lightning in terms of goal scoring this season. This year, Kucherov has participated in 57 of the team's 59 games, and he has accumulated 81 points for the club by scoring 21 goals and providing 60 assists.

Brayden Point, on the other hand, has been the Lightning's second-most valuable skater this season. Brayden has participated in 57 games and has amassed 65 points, including 34 goals and 31 assists. It will be interesting to see how these two star players will aid the team in the playoffs.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will travel to the Little Caesars Arena to face the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday (Feb. 25). The puck drop for the game is scheduled for 8:00 pm ET.