Tampa Bay Lightning Injury Update: Ben Bishop Latest Player To Battle Flu Bug
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop is the latest player to do battle with the flu bug making its way around the Lightning locker room.
The Tampa Bay Lightning just can’t seem to win for losing as of late when it comes to various injuries or illnesses plaguing the team. It seems as if, this time, the flu bug has latched onto another key member of the Lightning’s recent success.
According to Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Bay Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper has said Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop is currently suffering from the flu and they “won’t know until tomorrow if he will be able to play tomorrow night.”
As most Lightning fans know by now, according to Coach Cooper’s current “time share” goalie philosophy, with Andrei Vasilevskiy getting the start against the Calgary Flames on Thursday night, it would be time for Ben Bishop to take his place between the pipes on Monday night as the Lightning take on the Ottawa Senators.
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Unfortunately, there are more questions than there are answers right now. There is no realm in which a team doesn’t want their best players on the ice right now. The Tampa Bay Lightning are scratching and clawing their way towards a spot in the postseason and facing off against a Divisional opponent a critical step.
When you face off with a Divisional opponent like the Ottawa Senators, who are currently in second place in the Atlantic Division, not only does a victory put points in the hands of the Bolts, but it also takes them directly out of the hands of the Senators, allowing the Lightning to gain some room in the Standings.
Including Monday night’s contest with the Senators, there are only 22 games left in the regular season. If the Bolts want to rally and find themselves in a playoff position, every single point matters. While an overtime win is still a win, when it is against a Divisional opponent, the Bolts need to be able to shut things down in regulation.
Right now, Ben Bishop gives the Lightning their best chance to win. This is not a knock on the talents of Andrei Vasilevskiy. This is simply a matter of black and white. Bishop is 7-2-1 in his last 10 games with a Save Percentage of .911.
Ben Bishop is incredibly skilled at playing the puck and setting up plays for the guys in front of him. This is one of the many things that set Bishop apart from other goaltenders in the National Hockey League.
Next: Is Coach Cooper’s ‘1A’ And ‘1B’ Goalie Scenario Really The Way To Go?
Unfortunately, Lightning fans will have to sit on the edge of their seats a little longer before they will know anything official about Bishop’s status for Monday night. As Coach Cooper said, it’ll be tomorrow before the team will know anything, which more than likely means he’ll turn into a game-time decision.