Why? Because it moves the Lightning’s best goalie a step closer to playing Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. With the series tied 2-2, the teams meet in Tampa’s Amalie Arena at 8 p.m. ET. TV coverage is by NBC in the U.S., CBC and TVA Sports in Canada.
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Bishop sat out Game 4 with an undisclosed injury (which everyone agrees involves a body part, upper or lower). He didn’t participate in Friday’s practice, leading to questions of his availability.
Coach Jon Cooper did what all coaches do during the playoffs — he waved off questions and said only that if Bishop skated Saturday he would have a chance to play in Game 5.
Now it comes down to a game-time decision: Bishop or Andrei Vasilevskiy, who played well in Game 4, a loss at Chicago, but precious little else in experience.
Observers noted that Bishop skated before Game 4 as well. So just being on the ice isn’t indicative of anything except Bishop’s ability to be on the ice.
