Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy will finally be back on Amalie Arena ice tonight against Pittsburgh.

Vasilevskiy missed the first 20 games of the season while recovering from surgery to repair a herniated disc in his

lower back. In his first game back, on the road at Carolina last Friday, he made 22 saves in an 8-2 win.

“There is a ton of work (that) has gone in to get him to this spot. He has worked his tail off, and this was the date

circled on the calendar months ago and we hit the target date,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said before the

Hurricanes game.

Thursday’s game marks Vasilevskiy’s first on home ice since last season ended with a first-round playoff exit against

Toronto in a Game 6 overtime loss on April 29.

Vasilevskiy, 29, is a two-time Stanley Cup winner and a past winner of the Vezina (league’s top goalie) and Conn

Smythe (playoff MVP) trophies.

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy on the ice for warm ups before taking on the Pittsburgh Penguins at Amalie Arena on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 in Tampa. Vasilevskiy missed the first 20 games of the season while recovering from surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back.

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy inner for warm ups before taking on the Pittsburgh Penguins at Amalie Arena on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 in Tampa. Vasilevskiy missed the first 20 games of the season while recovering from surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back.

Fans show support with signs for Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy during warm ups at Amalie Arena on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 in Tampa. Vasilevskiy missed the first 20 games of the season while recovering from surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back.

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy on the ice for warm ups before taking on the Pittsburgh Penguins at Amalie Arena on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 in Tampa. Vasilevskiy missed the first 20 games of the season while recovering from surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back.