Andrei Vasilevskiy wins NHL debut

Dec 16, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) makes a save against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Andrei Vasilevskiy has his first NHL win.

Making his NHL debut in place of the injured Ben Bishop, Vasilevskiy stopped 23 shots as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1 Tuesday night.

Tyler Johnson scored the go-ahead goal for the Bolts (20-10-3) 6:34 into the second as he scored on a rebound after Nikita Kucherov’s shot came off of Ryan Callahan’s skate.

Steven Stamkos had tied the game at 1-1 with a wrister that went short side of Flyers goalie Steve Mason after Jonathan Drouin lost possession of the puck above the right circle.

Philadelphia (11-14-5) had taken a 1-0 lead with 40.4 seconds left in the first period as he tipped in Mark Streit’s slap shot on the power play.

Valtteri Filppula sealed the win with an empty netter with 41.8 seconds to play.

The Lightning’s power play struggles continued as they failed to capitalize on four opportunities. The Flyers went 1-for-3. Tampa Bay has beaten Philadelphia six straight times.

Radko Gudas and Ondrej Palat were both scratched again due to illness and a lower-back injury respectively. Ben Bishop, who was injured in Monday’s 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, isn’t expected to miss much time and hopes to return by the weekend.

Former Lightning star Vincent Lecavalier was scratched.

Vasilevskiy was 8-3-3 at Syrcause with a 2.34 GAA .918 save percentage. He was called up to the Lightning in favour of Kristers Gudlevskis. He made NHL history becoming the first goaltender to wear No. 88.

The Bolts continue their road trip against the Devils Friday night.