And now starting in goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning…Marcel Marceau.
Goaltender Ben Bishop, who is either hurt or he is not, who is either in agony or feeling waves of pleasure, met with the media Monday morning. He was happy to be there. Or not.
The Tampa Bay Lightning continued to play it coy with Bishop’s availability for tonight’s Game Three. Bishop had to leave the ice twice in the third period of Saturday night’s game, then skipped the post-game press conference. Since then, the Lightning has has refused to answer if Bishop or backup goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy will be in goal against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Want to know how a hockey player plays dodgeball?
Join in the media session, won’t you:
Question: Without going into specifics, can you tell us if it was an injury or illness in Game 2?
Bishop: “Not going to be much help to you guys right now. I’m not going to comment on that.”
Question: Do you feel well enough to play tonight?
Bishop: “We’ll see.”
Question: Ben, when you’re a goalie trying to play through whatever, it’s a little bit different than a player maybe, you’re the last line of defense. Talk about the decision you have to make about making sure you’re good enough given how important the position is.
Bishop: “Yeah, that’s important. Yeah, it is.”
Question: The fact is, you got to prepare yourself mentally with this thing.
Bishop: “I mean, you start preparing the whole time. You don’t really stop preparing. Even on days off, you’re still prepared. It’s one of those things you’ll be ready no matter what.
“I feel like Marshawn Lynch right now. ”(laughter).
Question: Do you have a timetable? Will you know by a certain time today whether or not you’re going to be able to go?
Bishop: “Yeah.’
Question: Do you know now whether or not you’re going to go?
Bishop: “No comment.”
And that was it. Sixty-seven words of wisdom.
In other words, if Bishop gives up goals the way he gives up information, then the Lightning are in good shape.
