When Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop went down in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final, his pain was foreign and severe to the point that he was already thinking he would be out for months.
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Backup Alexei Vasilevskiy made 25 stops in Bishop’s absence in his first significant playing time since the end of the regular season. “We have some depth, and we always have a lineup we can trust to play in all situations”. Then, given a late reprieve with a power-play opportunity with just under five minutes to go, the Penguins failed to score. Bishop appeared to take an awkward turn, then grabbed his left knee and could be heard screaming in pain. He immediately spun to the ground and looked like he had suffered a devastating injury.
“We just hope this is the end and, you know, we’re able to get all these guys back because you’ve heard me talk many times before, let’s not let this be (Anton) Stralman’s last game, (Steven) Stamkos, (J.T.) Brown, Bishop, all these guys”.
“He plays 27 minutes a game, or so, occupies a large amount of real estate in front of the goal – which will be key to making the less-skilled and less-tested Vasilevskiy more effective – and is fast and fearless (you would be, too, if you were 6’7” and built like an ox).
“He’s getting better with each day, and it’s encouraging to say”, Cooper said. “So I think our guys did a really good job of giving him time to get into the game”. He is 8-2 with a 1.86 goals-against average and a.939 save percentage in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Lightning swept the three-game season series, but they lost nine straight in Pittsburgh before winning 4-2 on February 20. They didn’t really find their game until the third period when they fired 16 shots at Vasilevskiy. “They have good support mechanisms built in place when somebody gets beat”. Like the Penguins’ Matt Murray, he is not a typical 21-year-old goaltender.
“We’re comfortable with him”, Boyle said.
“We understand that our region and our state have been built on the tourism industry and we acknowledge Bradenton’s great long term relationship with the city of Pittsburgh and its people”.
Per their custom in these playoffs, the Lightning overcame adversity all night. He still faces the possibility of a suspension for his hit from behind against Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang.
“It’s a scary experience for myself”, said Bishop.
It’s incredible considering how bad it looked Friday night, when Bishop had to be carted off the ice with a stretcher, feeling like a bone was sticking out of his left lower leg.
The fact that Bishop has not been ruled out for Game 2, two days after being taken off the ice on a stretcher, might be the best – and perhaps most surprising – news of all.
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Bishop said his phone “blew up” with messages after the injury.
