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Tampa Bay Lightning And Their Mysterious Ben Bishop

By Adam Savard

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By now you’re likely aware that Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop is playing through either some sort of injury or the worst case of irritable bowel syndrome in the history of professional sports. Whatever it is Bishop does not look right and fans of the Tampa Bay Lightning are holding their breath with every Chicago Blackhawks opportunity.

Related:  Tampa Bay Lightning Manage Salary Cap To Finals Success

One informed opinion on Bishop is a man who played the same position for seventeen years.  Martin Biron gave an interview on WGR550 in Buffalo where he gave his thoughts on a potential injury to Bishop and it’s progression through the playoffs.  Of course we won’t know what the injury is until after the Cup is raised.

Bishop is noticeably labored but to this point the potent Blackhawks offense hasn’t been able to take advantage of the Tampa Bay Lightning.  Victor Hedman has led the defensive efforts and put his name in the middle of the Conn Smythe conversation.  And Bishop himself has battled to play well despite his mystery ailment.

Once the Stanley Cup Final ends, like every series, the mystery will end and players from both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks will come forward with injuries that we can’t believe the players would compete with.  Only then will we know why head coach Jon Cooper continued to ride Bishop instead of playing Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Taking it one step further the Tampa Bay Lightning have been very impressive going on the road and beating a veteran team with a Stanley Cup in Chicago.  Considering the status of Bishop a case can be made teams no longer need top goaltending to win the Stanley Cup.  That doesn’t mean anyone can make a deep run.

Look at the teams that fell just short of the Stanley Cup Final.  Frederik Andersen and Henrik Lundqvist both fell in Game Seven in the Conference Final and they are at opposite ends of their careers, Andersen just getting started and Lundqvist thought to be one of the best goaltenders in the world.

Bishop falls somewhere in the middle when healthy.  If he does fall apart Vasilevskiy gets the nod, which might actually be an upgrade given Bishop’s issues.  A first-round pick thought to be the goalie of the future, playing the rookie could backfire due to his age and inexperience.  Though he could also be too young to know any better and not have the veteran pressure thinking this could be their last chance at the Stanley Cup.

If Bishop keeps fighting through whatever he’s dealing with it won’t be this season we see Vasilevskiy take the playoff test.  Whether dealing with a pulled stomach muscle, groin issue or a tear Bishop seems intent on leading the Tampa Bay Lightning as far as he can.  Hopefully for his teammates and Lightning fans that’s four more games.

Next: Noah Hanifin Perfect Fit For Carolina Hurricanes

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