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Lightning’s Louis Domingue solid as a backup

Louis Domingue gives Lightning a chance to win when filling in for all-star goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.
 
Louis Domingue looks through traffic during Sunday's win against the Oilers. [DIRK SHADD | Times]
Louis Domingue looks through traffic during Sunday's win against the Oilers. [DIRK SHADD | Times]
Published March 19, 2018

TAMPA — It was the kind of goal that can sink a team that is struggling, and the Lightning was struggling when backup goalie Louis Domingue let in a fluke goal just 14 seconds into Sunday's game against the Oilers.

So much of the Lightning's success this season rests at the pads of all-star goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy that it is not unusual to expect somewhat of a letdown when someone other than Vasilevskiy is in net.

But that goal, which began when Domingue turned the puck over behind his own net, was the only one the Oilers would get in the Lightning's 3-1 victory.

Domingue turned in a Vasilevskiy-like performance, stopping 29 shots and stoning the Oilers' power play during the third period.

"How about the goaltender who gets a tough break there and let's that one in and then doesn't let one in the rest of the night? It says a lot about the mental makeup," coach Jon Cooper said.

It was the type of performance a playoff-bound team fighting for home ice throughout the postseason needs from the No. 2 goalie.

There cannot be any letdowns at this point of the season. Domingue made sure of that Sunday, playing what he called his best game of the year.

"It was one I was looking for for a long time," he said.

Domingue knew he was playing Sunday long before he was sent to AHL Syracuse on March 13, an indication that he remains Vasilevskiy's backup despite the return of Peter Budaj.

It makes sense. Budaj has not started a game in more than two months, while Domingue played in his place.

Budaj began the year as the backup before suffering a lower body injury Dec. 29. He returned to the roster the day before Domingue was sent down. He played the third period against Ottawa in relief of Vasilevskiy but did not dress Sunday.

Domingue's time with Syracuse was to keep him fresh for Sunday's game.

With the Lightning playing just twice last week — Tuesday and Saturday — Domingue would have faced the Oilers on seven days of rest. Not unusual for a backup, especially one backing up Vasilevskiy, who has started 57 games. But with the Crunch playing a pair of games last week and Budaj healthy, the Lightning took advantage of the schedule of both teams to get Domingue more playing time while still having a backup on the NHL roster.

"It was part of the plan," Domingue said. "They were just trying to sharpen my game-day routine, and (I) just come prepared for when they call my name to play games. To me, it was just a matter of going down there, feeling good about where my game's at and bringing it up here."

Domingue is 6-2 in eight starts this season with the Lightning. He raised his save percentage Sunday to .913 and lowered his goals-against average to 2.84.

Captain Steven Stamkos, noting that Budaj played well until his injury (3-3-1 record, 3.77 goals against average and an .876 save percentage), said the team has confidence in Domingue.

"Since his first game he's been extremely solid. That's what you need," Stamkos said. "It's probably the toughest job in sports being a backup goalie. Putting in the work day in and day out and not knowing when you're going to get your call and sometimes getting the rough end of the bargain when you're coming in on a back-to-back (games) and the team is a little tired. But he gives us a chance to win."

That is what you need from a backup goalie — a chance to win. That is what Domingue is providing.

Contact Roger Mooney at rmooney@tampabay.com. Follow @rogermooney50